Michael Douglas shares details of his throat cancer

Michael Douglas talked about his throat cancer -- the diagnosis, treatment and prospects -- with David Letterman on Tuesday night, keeping it positive and closing out the interview with a hug.

"You look good," Letterman said, "and you don't sound like you have throat cancer. Why is that?"

"Because I'm on stage," Douglas replied.

Three weeks ago, a walnut-sized tumor was found at the base of his tongue. Now, the actor is through the first week of radiation and chemo, with seven weeks left to go -- weeks he says will bring more side effects and discomfort. Even in the first week, he said, the chemo "knocks you out really hard."

With the cancer contained to his head and neck, he said, his chances for success are about 80%, or slightly better depending on where he gets his care.

Douglas' new movie, "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," opens Sept. 24 in the U.S. He said his treatment will interfere with the film's foreign promotional tour.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Related dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip:

Michael Douglas confirms throat tumor, will undergo chemo

Frank Langella's having a better Friday than you are

Cameron Douglas sentenced to five years in prison

Comments

[All-Hallows-Eve]

Hang in there Michael. Get well!

[no name]

I will forever by a fan of Micheal Douglas - not for his body of work - but for his honest and forthcoming accounting of his cancer last night on David Letterman.

He did not pretend it was a 'gift' as so many cancer patients refer to it - where that line of thinking comes from, I do not know.

Kudos to David Letterman, as well, for the delicate way he handled his questions. (Much better, David, than bashing Jay Leno for no reason!)

My 22 year old son has glioblastoma - to my thinking undiagnosed for years - if anyone know how to reach Micheal Douglas by email, would you please respond to above email. Thank you.

[Kevi]

My prayers and well wishes go out to Mr. Douglas and his family.
May your battle with this terrible disease not be to hard on you and you come through it with new strength and health.
Letterman did a wonderful job with this interview.It was heartfelt and genuine.
When he asked what he could do for Douglas and he said "give me a hug",and he did hug him it made me tear up.That was a beautiful moment.

[AdoptiveFather, Los Angeles CA]

Once again, smoking kills.

[TONI]

WE WILL CONTINUE PRAYERS FOR YOU MR DOUGLAS

[WD]

Let me get this straight, his wife is furious at his doctors? How about the last 40,000 packs of cigarettes you smoked? Good Lord! It is not the doctors fault. It is Michael Douglas' life style choices.

[Beverly]

The very best to Michael Douglas. I am sure he will beat this terrible disease. God bless.

[Krystal Clear]

Adoptive Father,

Michael Douglas (and his Dr's) actually credited years of harsh drinking with this throat cancer, not smoking.

[brad]

I was a neighbor of his back in the days of his relationship with Brenda when, perhaps, he was not so pure. But, I am a fan. Always have been. Good luck Michael and stay with it.

[Hey]

That's what happens when these old geezers marry young women and bring more children into the world.

[Rick]

I was very sorry to hear about Michael's battle with throat cancer. He will remain in my prayers and will not fight this alone.

[Robert Harper]

Hey! What the hell kind of comment is that? Are you ignorant or stupid? Or both? Throat cancer is not a subject you make silly comments about and it has nothing to do with his age. You should be ashamed.

[TomMann]

Stage four. Can't get any worse. Next he'll have his larnyx removed. He'll be dead within two years. My father went through the same thing. It wasn't pretty.

[Sister Veronica Brutosky, C.S.J.]

How can I reach Michael Douglas to tell him about Dr. Johanna Budwig's protocol of eating lo fat cottage cheese mixed with Trader Joe's cold pressed Flax Oil in the dark bottle. (Linseed Oil). Please look up Dr. Budwig on You Tube and in Amazon.com for her books. She took home from the hospital stage 4 cancer patients and saved their lives with this protocol,plus at the start, a 5 cc s flax oil enema. Eat raw veggies, etc. Absoutely no sugar and no red meat. Anyone who sees this Post, reach Catherine Zeta Jones or Michael Douglas, let them know that their doctors will discourage them from this treatment and that he should go ahead and start it today to save his life. He can add this protocol to any other of his treatments but avoid chemo and radiation if at all possible. How I fix my Flax Oil mixture is I put a half cup of lo fat cottage cheese in a bowl with one Tablespoon of the oil (shake the bottle first.) and mix it thoroughly. You can use a blender. Dr. B says to let it sit for awhile. Maybe ten minutes I do. I then add cinnamon and Stevia and walnuts and fresh fruit. You can save your life with this Michael. I am a Catholic Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Someone reach Michael and all cancer patients. Am praying for him. Get Wm. L. Fisher's book;see Ch. 4 & 5, explains Dr. Budwig's treatment. She is a five time Nobel Prize nominee.

[Dr. John E. Oliver, DDS]

Well, as a dentist and someone who had stage IV SCC(base of tongue) with a 4 cm enlarged lymph node on my anterior carotid artery area initially, and then 14 nodes bilaterally 2 1/2 years later following modified radical neck disection, and then 6 weeks of chemo and radiation, I can tell you, no matter how optimistic you think you may be, it is not going to be fun. My otolaryngologist wanted to remove my entire tongue and all posterior teeth upper and lower. My degree is the only thing that saved me as I dictated my own treatments and knew where to go for appropriate therapy. Your skin is burned off your neck and your mouth is just as raw. A feeding tube will be mandatory sooner or later. I had one in for nearly a year. Vomit is part of your life for all that time (out of your stomach tube and your mouth). He need to have explicit dental care outside of the medical establishment, as they are utterly inept when dealing with the mouth and teeth. Infections that develope around the stomach tube along with the therapy given, may take your life, as I was very close a couple of times of expiring, and only because of my age(now 61), and strong physical nature, did I survive. In ten days, I clear 4 years post chemo/rad and nearly 7 years since I found the node on my neck. The cancer, if it does returns, waits almost precisely, 2 1/2 years following treatment. Michael has a tough road ahead and needs real knowledge, not hokey flaxseed-Tijuana treatments.

[All Hallows Eve]

Interesting Dr. Oliver.
Your story is inspiring.
I wish you the best with your continued recovery.

And I agree with you on the flax-seed bs. At the very least, I'm sure those who try it will have a clean colon!

[bonnie]

Not once has Michael mentioned the word T O B A C C O

[Dr. John E. Oliver, DDS]

Thanks for your thoughts All Hallow. There is so much more info that it is necessary for him to have, but unfortunately, when your in a life and death situation as this situation presents itself to Michael, you are scared of what your life is going to become(Rodger Ebert). So much can be controlled, such as your amount of saliva after radiation (water bottle in his hand). Amophostene injections given into your abdomen before each rad tx maintains 80% saliva flow as opposed to only 25%. A simple impression material (Reprosil)will prevent post rad osteoradionecrosis of the jaw bones from the scattered radiation of the IRMT beams bouncing of the metal of his crowns. Daily chlorhexidene rinses 6x daily, especially during the stomach tube interval to maintain all teeth without any loss (If the involved oral surgeon hasn't already made his money on the extraction and implant placement). By the way, not necessarily all hair will temporarily be lost, with a permanent new nape line (hair loss where radiation exits the back of the neck (who cares?). Chemo brain is real!!

[blackone]

God bless all those who are suffering and trying their best to recover. I think history has shown us that we cannot discount unusual treatments from a health food perspective. Big pharma will do ANYTHING for money.

[Rescie]

I was so impressed by Michael's bravery and humor. He's lost so much weight already but if anyone can beat it, he will. It's scary, though, when you really think about it. With his wealth he is able to get the best medical attention available and yet he went undiagnosed for months, complaining of a sore throat and ear aches. Not to forget the year that Dana Reeve complained of a cough and went undiagnosed with lung cancer. What chance.does the average person have in similar situations. As far as Catherine being furious at his doctor, can you blame her. And yes,you can say his lifestyle did play a big part in his lillness, but Dana didn't smoke and lived on the country with clean air. Go figure. We've got to beat this disease.

[Jennifer]

I LOVE YOU AND I AM PRAYING TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER FOR YOU. REMEMBER THE IMPORTANT THINGS NOW AND FORGET THE OTHER STRESSORS. PUT ALL OF YOUR ENERGY INTO BEATING THIS. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

[karen dapello]

Hey, Adoptive Father: ALOT of things kill.....are you so perfect that you have no vices? I'm sure that information will help Mr. Douglas fight his battle. I swear, some people have nothing better to do than lecture.

[nancyooper]

Prayers to mike and his family. Unfortunately Michael mentioned he has stage IV which is the pathological stage for the spread of cancer. I was diagnosed with stage III laryngeal cancer and required a total laryngectomee (removed my vocal cords and windpipe). Then it spread to my neck and therefore was classified a stage IV. Michaels wife should be mad...at her husband. Diligence on the patients part is mandatory as you are your own best advocate. Fortunately I can still speak thanks to a silicone voice prosthesis installed during surgery. It allows a patient to draw air into your esophagus and direct air out of your mouth for speech. This is made possible by puncturing a small hole from my stoma to my esophagus. Hate to be graphic but that is the price you may pay for smoking. Take sore throat and referred ear pain seriously and see an ear, nose and throat specialist (otolarynologist) if you suspect something.

[Onboard Skeptic]

This discussion is getting ridiculous already. If Michael Douglas DID smoke and/or drink alot(as with Christopher Hitchens who has esophageal cancer)then he most DEFINITELY made himself a more likely candidate for this cancer. However, JUST that in and of itself didn't CAUSE this. It's more complex(i.e., the genetic factor, emotional stress), esp. when you consider that certain people reach old age having committed these "vices"(I think back to the interview on "Sixty Minutes" many years ago when Hubie Blake who made it to 99 years of age "confessed" that he ate about a pound of candy a week!).

It also means that Catherine Zeta Jones was completely out of line in attacking his doctor(because it wasn't the doc's responsibility to get Michael to stop these habits anyway).

[bonnie]

Hello,

I would just like to say I have always been a huge fan,,,love you and your wife Catherine, but more importantly ,, my father in law had throat cancer and we pumped him up with carrots. at least 20 a day. you can juice them or whatever but he surivived it for 18 years, He had radiation and all,,,they used to draw with a marker on this throat..
but please try the carrots.....
we love you and hope you only the best of health
my name is Bonnie, my dad passed with cancer of the pancreas when I was 4. We love you and only hope for the best
xxx