Get a look at what Michael Douglas is saying about his disease..
At least he's trying to get the conversation going.
J.
LONDON (AP) — Actor Michael Douglas says that his throat cancer was caused by a virus he contracted by performing oral sex on women.
The Guardian newspaper published an interview Monday in which Douglas blamed cunnilingus for the grave malady that was diagnosed in 2010.
The 68-year-old Douglas has been free of cancer for more than two years after receiving extensive chemotherapy and has returned to acting.
Douglas has starred in many movies, including "Basic Instinct" and "Fatal Attraction." He is currently appearing in an acclaimed biopic about Liberace.
He told the newspaper his cancer had been caused by having contracted the human papillomavirus (HPV), which he said led to cancer.
"It's a sexually transmitted disease," Douglas said of the virus.
Dr. Michael Brady, who specializes in sexual health as medical director of the Terrence Higgins Trust, told The Associated Press that oral sex could have contributed to Douglas's cancer but that it was difficult to pinpoint a single cause.
He pointed out that Douglas had been a smoker and a drinker, two factors that he said are the most common causes of oral cancer.
"There are often a number of factors, genetic, environmental, viral, that could be playing a role," he said.
Brady said there are hundreds of different types of HPV virus and that in most cases it does not cause damage. The risk is so low, he said, that he does not believe people should worry or change their sexual practices.
Comments
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Dr. Brady
might do well to study up on HNC, and growing incidence of younger people who have never smoked or drank who are getting throat cancer...
Good for Michael for at least bringing it up.
p
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wow...
Thanks for sharing this, and your right, at least people are having conversations on the topic. I find it crazy we as a nation have been so blahsAy about cancer discussions. I remember as a child hearing people whispering about being able to catch cancer from a terminally ill patient. Thank God we've moved past this ! There are many things that contribute to a person having cancer.....especially later in life like Mr. Douglas. (But....throwing unfounded accusations out there) is rediculous ! People really need to read past the dx's and tx's and look deeper for the knowledge that will empower them to be a true warrior and spokesman for a cure. Thanks again for this post. And I'm sure other's will have other points of view. Wishing you the best ! Katie
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Heard that before...Skiffin16 said:The Sinners Cancer...
The thought that HPV derived H&N Cancer is a sexually transmitted disease, has lead to comments that it's the "Sinner's Cancer"....hmmmppphh.
JG
John,
I've heard that phrase before more than once.
It's amazing how many people have approached Kreg asking how in the world he got tongue cancer when he doesn't smoke and drank randomly.....like they know something and waiting for his reply. He simply tells most of them(clients) he doesn't know why and does any one really know how they got the cancer? For others, such as friends and family he is very outspoken about it. Especially to our boys.....they are vaccinated. We even talk to their friends about it and encourage them to get vaccinated, educate themselves more about it, and tell their friends.... Hoping to hit the younger generation about it. U of M actually told him they expect an epidemic of this HPV/Cancer in the very near future.
~C
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annnd...
Actually I don't see much that isn't fairly common knowledge in that article... Other than like mentioned, there is no way to exactly pin point the cause of MD's exposure to HPV... But there is a great chance that he is correct... I can't say that I don't feel the same way about how I was more than likey exposed.
But if that was the case with me, it had to be over 20 years ago....
I have a hard time with the fact that HPV doesn't have a cure, yet the body usually clears itself within a year or so... But that it also can lay dormant for decades before exposing itself or causing cell abnomality leading to cancer.
JG
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Compared to Tobacco Derived...cureitall66 said:Heard that before...
John,
I've heard that phrase before more than once.
It's amazing how many people have approached Kreg asking how in the world he got tongue cancer when he doesn't smoke and drank randomly.....like they know something and waiting for his reply. He simply tells most of them(clients) he doesn't know why and does any one really know how they got the cancer? For others, such as friends and family he is very outspoken about it. Especially to our boys.....they are vaccinated. We even talk to their friends about it and encourage them to get vaccinated, educate themselves more about it, and tell their friends.... Hoping to hit the younger generation about it. U of M actually told him they expect an epidemic of this HPV/Cancer in the very near future.
~C
A few years ago when I was looking for more information... I ran across several references where the though was that HPV derived H&N Cancer would over take Tobacco derived within the next few years...
Main reasons being, education on the dangers of tobacco..., and social behaviors and acceptance of sexual activity than say a 50 or so years ago...
~JG
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Another article with slideshow details
I do not know how to insert a clickable link but please take a look at this article posted today on the usatoday website ...
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2013/06/03/hpv-causes-a-growing-number-of-oral-cancers/2383013/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:
+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo
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Went to see my MedOnc todaySkiffin16 said:Compared to Tobacco Derived...
A few years ago when I was looking for more information... I ran across several references where the though was that HPV derived H&N Cancer would over take Tobacco derived within the next few years...
Main reasons being, education on the dangers of tobacco..., and social behaviors and acceptance of sexual activity than say a 50 or so years ago...
~JG
and we spoke about it. He (Harvard trained, National Institute of Health and Slone) said there really isn't any good science as to where we get the HPV but that over 90% of the population has some variance of it at sometime or another. Most of us sluff it off and has no lasting effects. He agreed with me that if MD's quote does nothing but get some kids vaccinated, it is a really good thing.
As a by product, I'm now on Monthly visits. Next CT in two months.
Joe
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I almost peed my pants, i
I almost peed my pants, i wanted to comment anywhere what an idiot!
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Here You Go...alligatorpointer said:Another article with slideshow details
I do not know how to insert a clickable link but please take a look at this article posted today on the usatoday website ...
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2013/06/03/hpv-causes-a-growing-number-of-oral-cancers/2383013/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:
HPV replaces tobacco as oral cancer cause
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Thanks for making the link clickable, JohnSkiffin16 said:Here You Go...
HPV replaces tobacco as oral cancer causeI was hoping you would. Folks are more likely to look at a link if they can simply click on it.
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Michael makes an important point
But the article seems to be an exercise in how many times Michael can use the other "c" word in a public forum. As has been discussed here, there are many possible ways that HPV can be transmitted. Too much focus on the other "c" and many folks might not take the danger seriously, as they don't indulge, so to speak.
Deb
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+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo
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