Michael Douglas Talks Frankly About Illness

**Panda** Tue 4 Jun - 4:52

Michael Douglas Talks Frankly About Illness

The actor has moved to clarify that his oral cancer was not
caused by the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus.

12:16am UK,
Tuesday 04 June 2013

Michael Douglas Talks Frankly About Illness 169172311-1-522x293

Video: Douglas Talks Of Cause Of
Cancer
Enlarge

Hollywood actor Michael Douglas has moved to clarify reports that
he blamed his throat cancer on performing oral sex.

A spokesman for the star, Allen Burry, said in a statement that Douglas never
said that was the cause of his cancer.

He said the star was discussing what causes oral cancer, which can be
contracted through a sexually transmitted disease, but was not talking about his
own illness.

The 68-year-old had stage-four cancer, which took around six months to
treat.

"Without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV
(human papilloma virus)," he told The Guardian.

"I did worry if the stress caused by my son's incarceration didn't help
trigger it.
Douglas wife his wife, Catherine
Zeta-Jones
"But yeah, it's a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer."

Health officials say smoking and alcohol are the main causes of oral cancer.
The human papilloma virus, however, has been linked to one kind of throat
cancer.

More than 100 different types of HPV have been identified but there is no way of detecting the virus in the
mouth or neck before a cancer is diagnosed.

According to the United States' National Cancer Institute, throat cancers
caused by HPV have increased during the past 20 years, especially among men.

The virus is responsible for around 63% of throat cancers, according to the
US-based Centres for Disease Control and
Prevention.

Speaking after confirming he had beaten the cancer in 2011, Douglas said
the disease had "put a timeline on my life".

"It's been a rough few years but I'm back with a vengeance," he added.

"I feel blessed and fortunate that I still have a career. I feel blessed and
fortunate that I'm even alive."

Douglas is married to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, with whom he has two
children, Dylan and Carys.

In a career spanning nearly 50 years, he has won four Golden Globes and two
Academy Awards.

Douglas recently appeared on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival to
promote his new film Behind The Candelabra.

He also stars in upcoming comedy Last Vegas alongside Robert De Niro and
Morgan Freeman.