Michael Douglas Reveals the Throat Cancer Sign He Noticed First

Updated 16:20 7 Oct 2026 GMT+1Published 15:15 11 Mar 2026 GMT

Douglas opened up about one symptom especially which stuck out for him

Michael Dougals has opened up about the signs of throat cancer, including one symptom in particular, as well as the condition's link to oral sex.

In 2010 the star of Basic Instinct revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer, though he divulged only that it had been caused by Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, three years after this.

HPV is more widely known for its connection to cervical cancer, and can be transmitted by any skin to skin contact with the genitals, including oral sex.

Douglas said he consulted a doctor in 2010 after a sore throat which had lasted unusually long, only for his doctor to be left stunned after finding a 'walnut-sized' tumour at the bottom of Douglas' tongue.

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It was determined that he had stage VI squamous cell carcinoma oral cancer, and immediately started an eight-week-long course of treatment including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, during which he lost some 20kg from the brutal treatment program.

Douglas said that the condition had been from oral sex, and HPV can be passed from skin to skin contact.

Happily, Douglas went into remission from his cancer.

Here are some symptoms of oral HPV which you should watch out for.

Michael Douglas is now cancer-free after discovering he had a tumour which he said was caused by oral sex (Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

It is important that you see a doctor if you notice these symptoms persisting, or if they are starting to worry you:

Some people have no symptoms, according to the US Centres For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), though serious cases of HPV can cause warts or cancer.

Having swollen lymph nodes can be a sign of throat cancer (Getty Stock Image)

HPV is the single most common sexually transmitted infection in the US.

There are over 100 types of the virus, and 40 of those can spread through direct sexual contact to the genital areas, as well as the mouth and throat, according to The Oral Cancer Foundation.

Oral HPV is transmitted to the mouth by oral sex, among other ways.

It is estimated that 10 per cent of men and 3.6 per cent of women have oral HPV, while the CDC claim that all sexually active people will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives, though most people are cleared of the virus in just one to two years.

In the US, it is estimated that HPV causes 60 to 70 per cent of oropharyngeal cancers.

There are more than 100 types of HPV (Getty stock images)

Speaking to The Conversation, Dr Hisham Mehanna explained: "Those with six or more lifetime oral-sex partners are 8.5 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer than those who do not practice oral sex.

"80 per cent of adults reported practicing oral sex at some point in their lives, but only a small number of those people develop oropharyngeal cancer."

He pointed out that most of us who catch HPV infections will be 'able to clear them completely' over time, but explained: "A small number of people are not able to get rid of the infection, maybe due to a defect in a particular aspect of their immune system."

Dr Mehanna said that the virus can replicate continuously in these patients, integrating in random positions in their DNA, which can cause host cells to become cancerous.

After his diagnosis and treatment, which he described as being 'like the seven circles of hell', Douglas said he was 'just happy to be alive', adding to the Daily Mail: "I was ecstatic. It feels like a rebirth after you go through cancer and you come out of it. You feel like you’re a child.

“You see priorities differently. You have a much deeper appreciation of marriage, of your children – you see everything a little bit clearer, and a little brighter.”

Douglas spoke about how his revelation affected his wife of 25 years, Catherine Zeta-Jones (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

However, the Ant-Man star said he regretted the 'embarrassment' the story caused his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, whom he married in November 2000.

He said: "I was trying to make a public service comment. It was one of those things... and I so regretted any embarrassment that it caused Catherine. And her family."

Douglas also revealed in 2013 that he had tongue cancer, as he told Samuel L. Jackson on This Morning that he was advised to 'just say it's throat cancer' as it was 'before I had to go on a big tour for Wall Street'.

"So we kind of said there's no way we can cancel the tour and say we don't feel well … You've got to tell them," he said. "I said you've just got to come out and just tell them I've got cancer and that's that."

Featured Image Credit: Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

Topics: Cancer, Celebrity, Health, Michael Douglas