Michael Douglas says a sexually transmitted disease caused his tumour. Photo: Ian West/PA WireHollywood actor Michael Douglas has revealed his battle against throat cancer was caused by performing oral sex, it has been reported.
The 68-year-old claimed his stage-four cancer was contracted through the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease.
He told the Guardian: “Without wanting to get too specific this particular cancer is caused by HPV.”
Douglas said: “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.”
However, his claim that oral sex is also the cure for the cancer was disputed by doctors, the paper said.
Douglas, who is married to Welsh actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, said that after “a rough few years” he is “back with a vengeance” and feels “blessed and fortunate to even be alive”.