In a surprisingly direct interview, legendary actor Michael Douglas admitted that the cause of his throat cancer was oral sex, not smoking or drinking.
During an interview with The Guardian that was meant to promote his new movie Behind the Candelabra, the two-time Oscar winner was asked if he regretted all the smoking and drinking he did for years. He was asked if he believed he overdid it.
“No,” he said. “No. Because, without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV [human papillomavirus], which actually comes about from cunnilingus.”
The interviewer was surprised and thought he misheard. He double checked with the actor. Douglas replied that he did think that stress from Cameron’s legal issues played a role.
“From cunnilingus. I mean, I did worry if the stress caused by my son's incarceration didn't help trigger it. But yeah, it's a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer,” Douglas replied. “And if you have it, cunnilingus is also the best cure for it.”
Douglas was diagnosed with throat cancer in August 2010 and believed that it was life threatening. However, after undergoing treatment, he was cancer free in January 2011.
According to The Huffington Post, the Oral Cancer Foundation notes that a tract of HPV, HPV16, is linked to oral cancer, starting in the back of the throat and mouth. The actor said he suffered from toothaches and other oral infections in the months before he was diagnosed with cancer.
Douglas, 68, is married to Catherine Zeta-Jones. He’s won Oscars for producing One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and his role in Wall Street.
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