Michael Douglas: oral sex gave me throat cancer

FORGET years of drinking and smoking– movie star Michael Douglas claims oral sex caused his throat cancer.

In a frank interview with The Guardian, Douglas, 68, said he didn't blame his hard-partying past for his cancer diagnosis. "Without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV [human papilloma virus], which actually comes about from cunnilingus", he explained.

"It's a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer. And if you have it, cunnilingus is also the best cure for it."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Douglas, who is married to Welsh actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, was given an 80 per cent chance of survival after being diagnosed with stage four throat cancer in 2010 but has been clear for two years.

His cunnilingus claim set tongues wagging on social media, with Sunday Times feature writer Camilla Long tweeting: "Not sure my brain has enough space for Michael Douglas playing Liberace AND getting cancer from cunnilingus."

One expert, however, cast doubt on the actor's assertion that cunnilingus is the best cure for throat cancer. Mahesh Kumar, a consultant head and neck surgeon in London, said: "Maybe he thinks that more exposure to the virus will boost his immune system. But medically, that just doesn't make sense."

Although Dr Kumar conceded there had been a rise in forms of oral cancer associated with HPV - a sexually transmitted virus which is also known as a cause of cervical and anal cancers – he said it may not be the only cause of Douglas's illness. As The Guardian notes, "It can't be explicitly said to cause any particular cancers. It's a long-term risk factor: over years and decades the risk is increased, rather than overnight". The STI is very common. By the age of 25, 90 per cent of sexually active people will have been exposed to some form of it. Teenage girls in the UK are now vaccinated against HPV, which should prevent cervical cancers and reduce the risk of cunnilingus to men.