Michael Douglas nearly done with throat cancer treatment

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Michael Douglas is on the last round of chemotherapy and radiation in his battle with throat cancer, followed by six weeks of recovery, the actor’s rep told People on Wednesday. When it’s done, the actor says, he’s considering packing up the family and traveling the world.

‘He’s really happy about it ending,’ friend and publicist Allan Burry told the mag.

Drama of course surrounds the 66-year-old’s health situation, with the UK Sun declaring ‘No more films’ for the Oscar winner and a Star headline screaming Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones are ‘saying goodbye’ (right next to a ‘baby shocker’ claiming Neil Patrick Harris’ partner David Burtka already has twins with another man, so use your best judgment).

Could it be that Douglas just wants to live a little after eight weeks of discomfort and a stare-down with mortality? He told the Guardian recently that he and Zeta-Jones have been thinking about taking their kids out of school for a year to travel the world, mentioning Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand and South Africa.

‘From now on I’m going to spend all my efforts on the people I’m closest to. When you’re younger you are so self-involved, self-obsessed,’ he told the paper. ‘As you get older, all of a sudden, you begin to appreciate relationships, be understanding about the foibles of life, more forgiving -- and you’ve got more time for the kids. It makes for a much happier marriage and family environment.’ This type of cancer has an 80% survival rate or slightly higher, depending on the quality of care received, the actor told David Letterman in September.

As Douglas currently isn’t up for travel, however, pal Danny DeVito accepted the Golden Icon Award on his behalf at the Zurich Film Festival on Sunday.

-- Christie D’Zurilla

Top photo: Michael Douglas and his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones arrive at the New York premiere of ‘Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps’ on Sept. 20, 2010. Credit: Dave Allocca / StarPix / Associated Press

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