However, some medical experts fear that the treatment might cause Michael Douglas to lose his voice or suffer from chronic hoarseness. “Odd Couple” actor Jack Klugman continued his acting career after a 1974 battle with throat cancer, then suffered a second bout in 1989 that left him unable to speak for several years. After rehabilitation, Klugman eventually regained a small, raspy voice, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation.
How likely is Douglas to suffer debilitating side effects—and what might lie ahead for him?
Each year, more than 25,000 Americans develop cancer of the throat and larynx (voice box). It’s ten times more common in men than women, and typically strikes older men like Douglas, 65, who is married to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Years of smoking and drinking are the most common culprits, reports Mona Karim, MD, vice chair of radiation oncology at Morristown Memorial Hospital in New Jersey, who is not involved in the actor’s care. “That combination chronically irritates the throat’s lining, which can lead to cancerous changes.” Douglas underwent rehab for excessive drinking in 1992, according to Vanity Fair, and reportedly kicked a half-pack-a-day cigarette habit in 2006.
However, the Hollywood icon hasn’t announced the cause of the cancer, which can also strike nonsmokers and nondrinkers. Other risk factors include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which causes stomach acid to rise into the throat, exposure to asbestos, and HPV, a sexually transmitted disease that can infect the mouth and throat.
Regardless of the cause, the star of Romancing the Stone and War of the Roses has every reason to be optimistic, adds Dr. Karim. “Based on his treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, Michael Douglas most likely has intermediate stage cancer that hasn’t spread outside the neck. There is a very sophisticated way to shape the radiation beam so there’s a lower dose to healthy tissue. If his tumor is in the voice box, there could be an issue of hoarseness, but if the tumor is somewhere else, this might not be a problem.”
The good news for Douglas and his fans: “The prognosis for people with throat cancer has improved dramatically,” reports Dr. Karim. “He could potentially be cured.”
CONNECT THE DOTS
To learn more about throat cancer, visit MedlinePlus. Warning signs include coughing up blood, trouble swallowing, hoarseness, chronic sore throat, and swelling in the neck. The best ways to prevent the disease are avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol use.
PREVIOUS POST
