Michael Douglas tells Matt Lauer, odds are he's got throat cancer 'beat'

HeartofSoul
HeartofSoul Member Posts: 729 Member
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
(Hope this provides inspiration for others. As I remember, he had stage 4 throat cancer.)

Michael Douglas tells Matt Lauer, odds are he's got throat cancer 'beat' (in remission)

http://scoop.todayshow.com/_news/2011/01/10/5805833-michael-douglas-tells-matt-lauer-odds-are-hes-got-throat-cancer-beat?gt1=43001


In his first television interview since undergoing treatment for throat cancer, Michael Douglas tells TODAY's Matt Lauer that his tumor is gone and he's got his cancer beat.
"The odds are, with the tumor gone and what I know about this particular type of cancer, that I've got it beat," Douglas said during an interview that will air Tuesday on TODAY. Douglas said that he still has to undergo monthly checks to be sure the cancer is gone, but he's already quantifying how having the disease has changed him.


here are more details on Michael Douglas Jan 11th

With throat tumor gone, Michael Douglas begins 3-year waiting game

Survival rate ranges from 50 percent to 80 percent. If the tumor was caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), then the odds are much better than they would be if it were related to other factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, O’Malley said, explaining that the HPV virus that causes some throat cancers is the same one that has been linked to cervical cancer in women.

While the overall survival rate for patients with late-stage throat cancers is about 50 percent to 60 percent, that number rises to 80 percent in patients with HPV-related tumors, Dr O’Malley said

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41009450/ns/health-cancer

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Hi Heart

    I am glad for him, as I feel no one should have this stuff
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    Hondo said:

    Hi Heart

    I am glad for him, as I feel no one should have this stuff

    Congratulation's
    I wish Mr Douglas my best! I sure as heck would not like to have been photographed like he was while going through treatment! Way to go Michael!
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    rozaroo said:

    Congratulation's
    I wish Mr Douglas my best! I sure as heck would not like to have been photographed like he was while going through treatment! Way to go Michael!

    Yes, AND
    Heard he lost 32lbs., but has gained 12 back. Wonder if that makes him one of us? Na- he's better than that. He can act.

    AND, Cookie Gilchrist died. Was 71 when he came down with throat C, and just died at the age of 75. Unknown details. For those who don't know- he was a great running back in Professional football in the 60s. Had three outstanding years with Buffalo- a major talent in the day.

    FYI

    kcass
  • HeartofSoul
    HeartofSoul Member Posts: 729 Member
    Kent Cass said:

    Yes, AND
    Heard he lost 32lbs., but has gained 12 back. Wonder if that makes him one of us? Na- he's better than that. He can act.

    AND, Cookie Gilchrist died. Was 71 when he came down with throat C, and just died at the age of 75. Unknown details. For those who don't know- he was a great running back in Professional football in the 60s. Had three outstanding years with Buffalo- a major talent in the day.

    FYI

    kcass

    Kent, the last time I
    Kent, the last time I checked, Michael Douglas has a heart, is fully capable of suffering, able to experience fears, has a family, isn’t immune to depressing days, and is vulnerable to the same risks of losing his life like any of us do when faced with cancer. Id say that makes him “One of Us”.

    Cancer is indiscriminate and as far as I am aware of, this disease doesn’t get intimidated or ask for an autograph when looking at a person’s celebrity status, bank account, whether they won an Oscar, or who their dad is.
  • skipper85
    skipper85 Member Posts: 229
    I Wish Mike Douglas All The Best

    His positive attitude is a great inspiration to all. I don't care if he's acting or not.

    Skipper
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    skipper85 said:

    I Wish Mike Douglas All The Best

    His positive attitude is a great inspiration to all. I don't care if he's acting or not.

    Skipper

    I want to see him as Liberace
    He is going to play Liberace in his next role. Dosen't that seem out of character for him? At first I though he was trivilizing this type of cancer but I realize that this assumption is totally unfair as he himself has yet to make any such comment. He seems to be immersing himself in his work which is what many of us do after treatment. In retrospect I have to give him KUDOS. Go Michael the Liberace man, can't wait to see how he plays him.
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    ratface said:

    I want to see him as Liberace
    He is going to play Liberace in his next role. Dosen't that seem out of character for him? At first I though he was trivilizing this type of cancer but I realize that this assumption is totally unfair as he himself has yet to make any such comment. He seems to be immersing himself in his work which is what many of us do after treatment. In retrospect I have to give him KUDOS. Go Michael the Liberace man, can't wait to see how he plays him.

    Liberace
    Thank you for the info ratface! I believe this will be one of his best movies ever!
  • BrianKrashpad
    BrianKrashpad Member Posts: 188
    Godspeed!
    To Mr. Douglas. Hopefully his recovery will add just a little to de-stigmatizing the whole ordeal, AND maybe influence some people to stop smoking.

    Win-win.
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member

    Godspeed!
    To Mr. Douglas. Hopefully his recovery will add just a little to de-stigmatizing the whole ordeal, AND maybe influence some people to stop smoking.

    Win-win.

    Heart
    Apologize if my humor wasn't appreciated. I had just hoped he would be more "out there" during treatment to give the masses a clue on what we go thru. That, and it woulda been kinda cool for him to have joined our group with a couple posts. And, yes, I can understand why he wouldn't be more available to the media during treatment, as they are bad times.

    Also, his coming out now as a success story really is good- good for us all. And I am very happy for him, and George Karl, and hopefully soon for Harmon Killebrew. Think he called the treatment a Roller-Coaster ride, which is an all right description.

    kcass
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    Kent Cass said:

    Heart
    Apologize if my humor wasn't appreciated. I had just hoped he would be more "out there" during treatment to give the masses a clue on what we go thru. That, and it woulda been kinda cool for him to have joined our group with a couple posts. And, yes, I can understand why he wouldn't be more available to the media during treatment, as they are bad times.

    Also, his coming out now as a success story really is good- good for us all. And I am very happy for him, and George Karl, and hopefully soon for Harmon Killebrew. Think he called the treatment a Roller-Coaster ride, which is an all right description.

    kcass

    Hal61
    Hi Kent, I agree, and didn't get that you meant anything. I like Mike, have since "Streets", and he seems like one of Hollywoods decent guys, but I too would like the awareness level of our society raised. "Beating" cancer or "kicking its butt" is a good attitude, but not a very apt assesment. It's like the "War" on drugs. It makes the general public feel good. Any cancer, especially head and neck, routinely has horrific side effects from treament, many lasting, and the public and the medical establishment need to be more attuned to quality of life and treatment issues. I hope Michael mentioned some of these in his interview.

    I look forward to the Libarace movie. I always watched his TV show as a kid. I didn't know he was gay, because I didn't know anybody was when I watched. I just thought his outlandish use of feathers and sequins was part of his show, ha.

    best, Hal
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    Kent Cass said:

    Heart
    Apologize if my humor wasn't appreciated. I had just hoped he would be more "out there" during treatment to give the masses a clue on what we go thru. That, and it woulda been kinda cool for him to have joined our group with a couple posts. And, yes, I can understand why he wouldn't be more available to the media during treatment, as they are bad times.

    Also, his coming out now as a success story really is good- good for us all. And I am very happy for him, and George Karl, and hopefully soon for Harmon Killebrew. Think he called the treatment a Roller-Coaster ride, which is an all right description.

    kcass

    Ditto Kent...
    I understood your humor...but I am of the Abi-Normal Clan...many on here know who you are that belong to my clan...LOL.

    I'm sure Michael Douglas was going through the same as we all have. He was in a battle for his life, and I'm sure that survival was the main thing on his mind.

    Yes, it would have been nice to have used his popularity to promote and educate. But under the circumstances, I'm sure that didn't really enter into the equation.

    It's much easier for we that have already gone through it and come out the back end...LOL, some of my Abi-Normal Humor. Anyways easier for us because we have gone through it. We can only wish now there was more awareness. But when we went through it, we only wanted to survive ourselves..

    We became much more educted along the way ans especially afterwards.

    Best,
    John
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    Skiffin16 said:

    Ditto Kent...
    I understood your humor...but I am of the Abi-Normal Clan...many on here know who you are that belong to my clan...LOL.

    I'm sure Michael Douglas was going through the same as we all have. He was in a battle for his life, and I'm sure that survival was the main thing on his mind.

    Yes, it would have been nice to have used his popularity to promote and educate. But under the circumstances, I'm sure that didn't really enter into the equation.

    It's much easier for we that have already gone through it and come out the back end...LOL, some of my Abi-Normal Humor. Anyways easier for us because we have gone through it. We can only wish now there was more awareness. But when we went through it, we only wanted to survive ourselves..

    We became much more educted along the way ans especially afterwards.

    Best,
    John

    John
    Tanks u lot, John. I new you culd undurstan.

    Seriously, Michael- only the best from all of us to you. We share an experience most difficult, both physical and mental. We all know your's was easier than some, who emerge from treatment and surgery scarred and with major changes, but know that your's was also more difficult than some others. That's true for all but two of us, and you're with the rest of us somewhere in the middle. Glad you're doing well enough to start another acting project- though you might wanna reconsider Liberace. Maybe something like a story about someone who goes thru what you just did would be cool. Just a suggestion. Never know- an Actor of your caliber just might get a lotta people to watch it...


    kcass
  • dennis318
    dennis318 Member Posts: 349 Member
    Kent Cass said:

    John
    Tanks u lot, John. I new you culd undurstan.

    Seriously, Michael- only the best from all of us to you. We share an experience most difficult, both physical and mental. We all know your's was easier than some, who emerge from treatment and surgery scarred and with major changes, but know that your's was also more difficult than some others. That's true for all but two of us, and you're with the rest of us somewhere in the middle. Glad you're doing well enough to start another acting project- though you might wanna reconsider Liberace. Maybe something like a story about someone who goes thru what you just did would be cool. Just a suggestion. Never know- an Actor of your caliber just might get a lotta people to watch it...


    kcass

    Throw My Left Shoe In On This!!!
    I Think Mr Douglas is a wonderful actor, I am sorry he had to go threw what I and Many Others have gone threw, The Media Had alot to do with some of this I feel, Can someone tell me that cancer was a WALK IN THE PARK, they didn't mention the thunderstom in a park with mad dogs shredding your clothes, it's more how I feel cancer was, Was no walk in the park in my book, I do wish he would have really shined for us though, when he could have been a star to be commended on telling what he was feeling, and going threw, I am jealous Michael had personal trainers, and chefs, regulating his food, plus his wife...Lucky him. But in all, I feel he went threw the same as we all did. there is way to get away, even with meds fighting the beast with in, I'm hoping to gain more back, He got his voice, I am jealous on that, but I'm not out of the game yet, We lost a couple of good ones here, they not taking us all....Screw Cancer...Dennis
  • HeartofSoul
    HeartofSoul Member Posts: 729 Member
    dennis318 said:

    Throw My Left Shoe In On This!!!
    I Think Mr Douglas is a wonderful actor, I am sorry he had to go threw what I and Many Others have gone threw, The Media Had alot to do with some of this I feel, Can someone tell me that cancer was a WALK IN THE PARK, they didn't mention the thunderstom in a park with mad dogs shredding your clothes, it's more how I feel cancer was, Was no walk in the park in my book, I do wish he would have really shined for us though, when he could have been a star to be commended on telling what he was feeling, and going threw, I am jealous Michael had personal trainers, and chefs, regulating his food, plus his wife...Lucky him. But in all, I feel he went threw the same as we all did. there is way to get away, even with meds fighting the beast with in, I'm hoping to gain more back, He got his voice, I am jealous on that, but I'm not out of the game yet, We lost a couple of good ones here, they not taking us all....Screw Cancer...Dennis

    I understand what your saying about lack of Public Awareness H&N
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17078899

    The illnesses of celebrity patients always receive more attention from the general public than those of ordinary patients. With regard to cancer, this fact has helped to spread information about the four major malignancies: breast cancer, prostatic cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Head and neck cancer, on the other hand, is still not well recognised by the lay public, although the risk factors are similar to those of lung cancer. It was the objective of this analysis to identify cases of celebrity patients, the description of which could help to increase awareness of head and neck cancer, its symptoms and risk factors.

    METHODS: The Internet and medical literature databases were searched for celebrity patients who had suffered from head and neck cancer.

    RESULTS: The search revealed numerous famous head and neck cancer patients. However, only seven cases were documented well in the medical literature. Among the identified persons were one emperor, two United States presidents, a legendary composer, a world-renowned medical doctor, an outstanding athlete and an extraordinary entertainer. In spite of their exclusive position in society, these patients did not have a better prognosis compared with ordinary patients of their time. Only two of the group experienced long term survival and only one was cured. None of these influential figures used their influence to fund research or to promote knowledge about their respective diseases.

    CONCLUSION: The identified cases could help increase public awareness of head and neck cancer. Similar to activities in other oncologic fields, current celebrity head and neck cancer patients should be encouraged to discuss their diseases openly, which could have a positive effect on public health.


    http://www.fightoralcancer.org/stories/faces/
    The Faces of Oral Cancer

    People who are diagnosed with oral cancer are all around us. One person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day, 8,000 people in the U.S. alone. We all have heard or know somebody who is either battling this deadly cancer or has lost a loved one in this battle, among them are many celebrities, including the following.

    Faces:
    Aaron Spelling
    Alan Landers
    Aldous Leonard Huxley
    Amanda Blake
    Anne Ramsey
    Anthony Minghella
    Babe Ruth
    Barbara McNair
    Ben Gazzara
    William Robert “Bill” Tuttle
    Brett Butler
    Bruce Paltrow
    Burl Ives
    Charles Robert “Bobby” Hamilton, Sr.
    Charlie Watts
    Clay Felker
    Colleen Zenk Pinter
    Curt Flood
    Diane Von Furstenberg
    Ed Bailey
    Elsbeary Hobbs
    Eddie Van Halen
    George Harrison
    Grover Cleveland
    Hank Ballard
    Hiram Ulysses Grant
    Hubert Green
    Heiner Muller
    Humphrey Bogart
    Jack Klugman
    Jack Wild
    Jim Thorpe
    John Diamond
    John Prine
    Judy Holliday
    Karl Mueller
    Lana Turner
    Marilyn French
    Mary Wells
    Mike Evans
    Peter Tork
    Rod Stewart
    Roger Ebert
    Sam Myers
    Sammy Davis, Jr.
    Sigmund Freud


    Oral cancer can affect anybody whether a celebrity or not. The International Oral Cancer Association was established to raise public awareness about this silent killer not only nationally but also globally since this cancer kills people every where. Our mission is to save a life every hour of every day. We believe everyone’s life is precious and worth saving.

    http://www.fightoralcancer.org/stories/faces/
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Kent Cass said:

    John
    Tanks u lot, John. I new you culd undurstan.

    Seriously, Michael- only the best from all of us to you. We share an experience most difficult, both physical and mental. We all know your's was easier than some, who emerge from treatment and surgery scarred and with major changes, but know that your's was also more difficult than some others. That's true for all but two of us, and you're with the rest of us somewhere in the middle. Glad you're doing well enough to start another acting project- though you might wanna reconsider Liberace. Maybe something like a story about someone who goes thru what you just did would be cool. Just a suggestion. Never know- an Actor of your caliber just might get a lotta people to watch it...


    kcass

    Agree
    I with you Kent
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    Hondo said:

    Agree
    I with you Kent

    Heartofsoul there are a
    Heartofsoul there are a bunch of people that I did not know that their cancer was oral or HNC.

    I too was sort of disappointed that Michael Douglass didn't speak out more about it and do a little more. I think of others like Melissa Ethridge, Farah Fawcett, Sheryl Crow and Lance Armstrong have done for their cancers.
  • kingcole42005
    kingcole42005 Member Posts: 178

    Heartofsoul there are a
    Heartofsoul there are a bunch of people that I did not know that their cancer was oral or HNC.

    I too was sort of disappointed that Michael Douglass didn't speak out more about it and do a little more. I think of others like Melissa Ethridge, Farah Fawcett, Sheryl Crow and Lance Armstrong have done for their cancers.

    I was bothered a bit he didn't go into more detail
    I was bothered a bit he didn't go into more detail. Only because when I told people I had oral cancer, they acted like it was nothing. I had one guy say, "oh well try having prostate cancer!" I just said well I don't have one of those. I just think someone like him can shed light on what head and neck cancer patients go through and use his experience to get more funding for research. There is virtually no research on my type of cancer, mucoepidermoid carcinoma. We are like the red headed step children in the cancer world. (no offense I'm a red head and was a step child!)
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member

    I was bothered a bit he didn't go into more detail
    I was bothered a bit he didn't go into more detail. Only because when I told people I had oral cancer, they acted like it was nothing. I had one guy say, "oh well try having prostate cancer!" I just said well I don't have one of those. I just think someone like him can shed light on what head and neck cancer patients go through and use his experience to get more funding for research. There is virtually no research on my type of cancer, mucoepidermoid carcinoma. We are like the red headed step children in the cancer world. (no offense I'm a red head and was a step child!)

    I feel the same way when trying to explain what type of Cancer I have to my Doctors here in Lafayette; even to some of my ENT’s I had in the passed. I would tell them I had NPC cancer and they would say what kind of cancer is that, you are the doctor and you don’t know. Gave me that feeling I was in the wrong place.
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member

    Heartofsoul there are a
    Heartofsoul there are a bunch of people that I did not know that their cancer was oral or HNC.

    I too was sort of disappointed that Michael Douglass didn't speak out more about it and do a little more. I think of others like Melissa Ethridge, Farah Fawcett, Sheryl Crow and Lance Armstrong have done for their cancers.

    heart of soul
    And I want to thank you for the list. Charlie Watts! I looked it up, and yes- 2004. And Peter Tork and Bogart! Lotta names you have listed- I had no clue. Thank you.

    kcass