If you haven't seen the Letterman interview with Michael Douglas yet, get out from under your rock and check it out.
No doubt by now you've heard that Douglas has stage 4 throat cancer, and has been undergoing hardcore chemo since his diagnosis some three weeks ago.
Smoking is a major cause of oropharyngeal cancer, the type of "throat cancer" Douglas is suspected of suffering from. Heavy drinking is also a cause; both are things Douglas has been known for in the past. But oropharyngeal cancer can also stem from human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus.
Treatment can include radiation coupled with chemotherapy and, in the late stage variety, surgery, to remove the affected portions of the tongue.
Fortunately, Douglas' doctors say his odds of survival are 80 percent.
This particular cancer can be tough to detect, so see an ear, nose and throat doctor if any of the following last longer than three weeks:
- Throat pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Ear pain
- Bleeding in the mouth or throat
- Hoarseness
- A lump in the throat, or the feeling that something is stuck
-Daily Life Wellness
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