Michael Douglas Reveals He Had Tongue Cancer, Not Throat Cancer

Actor Michael Douglas recently revealed that he had tongue cancer, rather than throat cancer as he previously stated in 2010.

Douglas explained that he hid the diagnosis at the advice of his doctor, who warned him about the potential disfiguring surgery that accompanies treatment for tongue cancer.

The doctor informed him that he could potentially lose part of his tongue and jaw if surgery was necessary.

Initially, when Douglas spoke about his cancer diagnosis in 2010, he was on a global publicity tour for the movie “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.”

During an interview with actor Samuel L. Jackson for Male Cancer Awareness Week on British television, Douglas joked that his acting career could have come to an end if he had to undergo surgery.

Douglas imagined a scenario where the director would ask, “What's your good side?

I've got no side over here.”

However, Douglas did not require surgery for his tongue cancer.

Instead, he underwent an aggressive form of radiation and chemotherapy, which lasted for five months.

The distinction between “throat” cancer and tongue cancer is important to note.

According to Brian Hill, founder of the Oral Cancer Foundation, there is no such thing as “throat cancer” specifically.

Both throat cancer and tongue cancer fall under the umbrella term of oral cancer.

Throat cancer typically refers to cancerous tumors in the pharynx, voice box, or tonsils, while tongue cancer refers to cancerous cells on the tongue.

Hill emphasized that the treatment for tongue cancer can be extremely harsh and could potentially jeopardize an individual's career, particularly if they are a leading man in the entertainment industry.

Signing a contract to promote a movie becomes challenging when facing the possibility of losing a tongue or lower jaw within six months.

In Douglas' case, he avoided disfiguring surgery and opted for radiation and chemotherapy instead.

Earlier this year, Douglas sparked a conversation about the link between oral s** and cancer when he revealed that he got throat cancer from engaging in oral s**.

It is known that oral s** can expose individuals to the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to cancer.

However, Douglas later clarified that he did not solely blame HPV for his cancer.

He acknowledged that his smoking and drinking habits were also contributing factors.

The CDC states that smoking and drinking, especially when combined, are significant risk factors for oral cancer.

Additionally, men are twice as likely as women to develop oral cancer.

Oral cancer accounts for a small percentage of all cancer diagnoses in the United States, ranging from 2% to 4%.

However, it is a serious diagnosis, with only half of those diagnosed still alive after five years, mainly due to late detection.

Symptoms of oral cancer are often difficult to detect and may be painless.

In Douglas' case, he initially received antibiotics as treatment for a soreness at the back of his teeth.

When the pain persisted three months later, he received another round of antibiotics.

It took nine months and a conversation with a friend who was a cancer survivor for Douglas to visit the oncology department, where a doctor conducted an initial examination and biopsy.

In 2010, Douglas was diagnosed with stage four oral cancer.

Douglas is not the only celebrity to misidentify their type of cancer.

Actress Valerie Harper, known for her role on the TV show “Mary Tyler Moore,” initially announced that she had terminal brain cancer on the cover of People magazine.

It was later revealed that she had lung cancer that had spread to the lining of her brain.

Dr. Otis Brawley, the American Cancer Society's chief medical and science officer, explained that it is common for people to misidentify their cancer type, as treatment should be based on the cancer's origin.

While Harper's type of cancer, leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, can be slowed down, complete remission is unlikely.

On the other hand, Douglas has been regularly monitored since his diagnosis and, at the two-year mark, his doctors declared him cancer-free with a 95% chance of the cancer not returning.