Michael Douglas: Stress Brought On Throat Cancer

Michael Douglas has had a stressful year, and he believes that contributed to his developing throat cancer.

Last month Douglas told David Letterman about his smoking and drinking habits, and he tells UK's Daily Mirror that stress was a major factor:

Michael says: "This type of cancer can be brought on by alcohol and tobacco abuse and by a certain type of sexually transmitted reason, but I look at it as stress. I've had a pretty stressful year on a number of fronts, some of which were public and some of which weren't.

"I've always worked hard and played hard and I'm sure I'll be cleaning up my act in the future. But I'm still looking forward to a good glass of wine when I get my taste buds back."

In April Douglas' son Cameron was sentenced to five years in prison for trafficking meth.

Douglas walked the red carpet of his new movie 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' Monday night.

Comments

[Dan Shipman]

08:48 PM on 10/13/2010

Also, not everyone that gets this is a heavy smoker/drinker or has HPV and I agree with them that significant stress can be a cause. I have endured 6 years of stress with a drug addicted child. It may not be a primary cause but it doesn't help.

[Dan Shipman]

08:44 PM on 10/13/2010

Having finished the same course of treatment for the same cancer diagnosis in April I know exactly what Michael Douglas is going through. He has gone through hell and my hat is off to him for making it through. His recovery will take time and he will have to learn to deal with some side effects from the radiation but eventually it ill pass and he will return to a normal life. For the next five years he will live from month to month between his checkups and in six months from now he will have his next PET/CT to check on his progress and I am positive this will be clean.

Having stage 4 head an neck cancer is not a death sentence. I had my six month post treatment PET /CT today and it was cancer free. His positive attitude and tenacity will prevail and he will beat this so don't count him out, support him and anyone who has been effected by cancer.

[Terri Blackburn]

03:32 PM on 10/07/2010

Michael Douglas has admittedly led a life full of heavy drinking, heavy smoking and being sexually promiscuous. He has admitted that he has given his wife, Catherine, the HPV virus due to his sexual past. He has also admitted that he has not been a good father to his first son, Cameron. Now, in the midst of launching another mega million dollar movie, whilst living in Jamaica with his beautiful wife and two beautiful children by her, he is going to blame his cancer on the stress from his son Cameron's drug sentencing - this seems a little shallow. This stress is his son. Michael is a parent - it goes with the territory. I wish Michael Douglas the very best - I'm a two time cancer survivor myself - but please don't continue to blame the cancer on the stress of being a parent. It doesn't go with your "movie star" image that we all have.

[CarlyG]

12:16 PM on 10/12/2010

He really admitted to giving his wife HPV? Guess she will have a hard time finding her next partner with that info out there, Arrogance and self indulgent lifestyle not stress probably factors in the cause. He is not a good father nor husband sounds like. Wish him the best for his kid's sake but the Douglas family's being in denial,blaming everyone else and not Cameron's own criminal acts did not help him and it won't help Michael either.

[bonewreck]

08:47 PM on 10/03/2010

Bottom line...genetics. He will beat this and live to 90.

[LittleMittens]

11:21 PM on 09/26/2010

And how is the weather in your world when a smoker can claim stress, and not the actual smoking, as the cause of cancer...

[LucianoMichael]

01:27 PM on 10/03/2010

Michael Douglas is a great actor'. Everyone has their own lifestyle, and things happen due to the lifestyle you live, how many of you have cancer, smoke, drink- how about drugs? To many negitive opinions here, wish the man good luck in his recovery, However I would be willing to bet that 30% of you will get cancer or something due to the way you live your lifestyle. Your life is on a day to day basis as Mr. Douglas has mentioned, so live it as he has learned! And when you get ill you can remember how you posted what you did about Michael Douglas, Michael I don't know if I speak for everyone here but we wish you a full recovery! Great Job! And Best Wishes, Have that glass of wine you deserve it!

[provgrays1]

08:10 PM on 10/03/2010

Luciano,

That's the internet, where people will hurl insults for all the world to see when they wouldn't
have the guts to tell the same thing to someone face to face.

[joeblow]

04:04 PM on 09/26/2010

Hmmmmmm. Stress brought on his cancer? Well, mayber it brought on a pimple or two, maybe hives. I'll go so far as to agree to maybe a few more gray hair or receeding hairline. Cancer? Uh, NEXT.......

[Samantha Monteleone]

09:07 PM on 09/26/2010

I fail to see how this comment is abusive...

Anyway, I agree. He is definitely trying to push the blame on something other than the obvious.

[patman77]

12:48 PM on 09/26/2010

80%.recovery rate..de nial. stress from sons problems...how about the heavy use of his life of substances, most toxic which are alci ohol and cigs. but he still looks forwars d to that glass I wine." I love the poison,but its killin' me" allman bros. great song.

[edejan]

12:43 PM on 09/26/2010

He smokes and drinks abusively but blames stress for his throat cancer? Really? Well, he's at the river named Denial.

[patman77]

12:42 PM on 09/26/2010

way to give your son some support and do as I do by not drinking even though it probably contributed to your cancer. denial is a family disease

[1jurisdiva]

10:55 AM on 09/26/2010

Certainly not the smoking and drinking.

[UnknownSolider]

08:49 AM on 09/26/2010

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is a good film

[Craig 212]

05:17 AM on 09/26/2010

Obviously stress didn't cause his cancer. But it probably had something to do with why he smoked so much, so yeah, I guess it's a contributing factor.

[Dr Charlie Schwengel]

12:01 AM on 09/26/2010

Mr. Douglas you are absolutely correct about stress being the underlying cause of your cancer. One of Nature's most amazing and little-known facts is that when we are under extraordinary stress we begin to grow tumors in specific areas of the body. Tumors are actually meant to help us resolve our stresses better, more efficiently. Cancer is not random nor is it "out to get us"; cancer is one of the many ways Nature uses to help protect us and keep us alive.
Dr. Charlie Schwengel, http://www.MedicineOfHope.com

[patman77]

12:44 PM on 09/26/2010

stressfree folks and infants develope cancer DR.bnhead.

[SundanceSuccess]

08:26 PM on 09/27/2010

Who exactly is stress-free?

[MissRoseNylund]

11:18 PM on 09/25/2010

I wish Michael Douglas well and hope for a full recovery.

[Samantha Monteleone]

10:56 PM on 09/26/2010

I'm going to favorite you because I abso-freakin'-lutely love Betty White.

[MissRoseNylund]

04:50 AM on 09/27/2010

I love Betty as well, which I'm sure you already knew. :)

Fanned back.

[Judith Delgado]

04:44 PM on 09/25/2010

The cancer is a worldwide illness that a lot of people can suffer for his relation I recommend hydrocodone and lortab.