UPDATE: Michael Douglas fighting stage 4 throat cancer
Michael Douglas blames years of drinking and smoking for causing his cancer. Using tobacco or drinking alcohol are among the main factors that put people at risk for throat cancer and combining the two increases the risk.
Throat cancer refers to cancerous tumors that start to grow in your throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx) or tonsils. Douglas is undergoing daily radiation treatments for the next eight weeks, hoping to beat his stage 4 diagnosis (levels of severity start at 1 and increase by number).
Stage 3 cancer is what is described as locally advanced, whereas stage 4 is where the cancer has spread to another part of the body. He said he is facing eight weeks of treatment and doesn’t expect to go under the knife. Douglas says that doctors have given him a positive prognosis with an 80 percent survival rate from a stage four cancer.
Douglas, 65, had sought medical treatment for the continual symptoms, which included ear and throat pain, however no cause at that time was determined. He wouldn’t received the cancer diagnosis until early August. Douglas’ wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones has expressed her anger on the doctor’s late diagnosis of her husband’s illness. Undoubtedly, Jones admits it is tough watching her husband battle throat cancer.
Tongue and throat cancers have a very high rate of cure if caught in the early stages, however the after-effects of the treatment can be rather long-lasting and rather extensive. Cancers that start at the base of the tongue are generally painless and they are often advanced when diagnosed.
It’s hard to believe! I’ve only known him as an ACTOR and he’s always seemed healthy and strong. I HOPE he recovers.
The actors long history of heavy drinking and smoking should have been a red flag to those physicians who saw him months ago. The difficult diagnosis of cancer of the base of the tongue, nevertheless, should have been made earlier.
Another, less morbid treatment program would be insertion of radium needles into the squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the tongue. Irregardless, chemotherapy has no role in the treatment of this lesion. Skip the chemo, Micheal!
You must stop smoking and drinking completely, if the radiation is to work.
Your are a great actor. Good luck in the tough fight that lies ahead!
George Meredith MD
Virginia Beach
I’m really sad to read this, Michael is such an amazing actor and I really hope he can fight this disease.
Good luck Michael and keep you chin up, you can beat this thing!
I pray that all those of us who know Michael, if only
as a fan of his cinematic gift’s, will also gift him with every power and prayer to fully recover his health as though it were our blessing.