Michael Douglas Reveals Truth About His Cancer Diagnosis

In a recent interview, Hollywood actor Michael Douglas admitted that he had not been entirely truthful about the type of cancer he had back in August 2010.

At the time, the 69-year-old shocked the world when he announced that he was battling stage IV throat cancer.

However, during a Male Cancer Awareness special edition of the UK talk show “This Morning,” Douglas confessed that he had actually been diagnosed with tongue cancer.

Douglas revealed that he intentionally misled the press and the public about his health to avoid canceling a big tour for his film “Wall Street.”

He explained that he believed it was necessary to inform people about his condition, so he decided to be honest about having cancer but chose to say it was throat cancer instead of tongue cancer.

The actor explained that his doctors advised against revealing the truth due to the negative prognosis associated with tongue cancer.

They warned him that if he had to undergo surgery, it would be a complex procedure that could result in the loss of part of his jaw and tongue.

To avoid discussing these potential grotesque outcomes, they decided to present his diagnosis as throat cancer.

Despite the deception regarding the specific type of cancer, Douglas emphasized that his announcement of having stage IV cancer was true.

He recounted the moment his doctor informed him about the walnut-sized tumor at the base of his tongue, which had gone unnoticed by other medical professionals.

Throat cancer has a survival rate of approximately 90 percent if detected early enough, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

On the other hand, tongue cancer has a survival rate of around 85 percent, as reported by the National Cancer Institute.

Additionally, tongue cancer is more likely to spread to other areas in the mouth, including the throat, making the required surgery more extensive, as Douglas mentioned.

Over time, our understanding of Douglas' illness has evolved.

In June 2013, he revealed that his cancer was caused by contracting HPV through oral s**.

However, one of his representatives later clarified that his comments had been taken out of context.

Douglas' story highlights the complexities associated with disclosing a serious illness while managing public appearances and personal concerns about the potential consequences of surgery.

Despite the initial deception, Douglas' brave decision to share his experience sheds light on the challenges individuals face when dealing with cancer diagnoses and treatment.