Health3 min(s) read
Published 11:47 05 Jun 2026 GMT
Three years after his cancer diagnosis in 2010, actor Michael Douglas revealed that the cause of it was oral sex. He has since spent the last decade campaigning about the signs and symptoms of HPV.
The Kominsky Method star was shocked when doctors investigating his persistent sore throat discovered a “walnut-size tumor” at the base of his tongue.
Describing a doctor’s appointment, Douglas, 81, said, “I will always remember the look on my friend’s face.
“He said, ‘We need a biopsy.’ There was a walnut-size tumor at the base of my tongue that no other doctor had seen.”
The actor was quickly diagnosed with stage IV squamous cell carcinoma. Thankfully, after months of aggressive radiation and chemotherapy, he is now cancer-free.
Just a few years after his diagnosis, Douglas sparked conversation when he revealed in an interview with The Guardian that his cancer was directly linked to oral sex.
He claimed that he contracted HPV through cunnilingus. The actor later denied making the comment, though the publication stood by its report and released the audio.
At an awards event later, Douglas reflected: “I never expected to become a poster boy for head and neck cancer, but if answering a few questions opens up discussion and raises awareness, then I’ll stand by that.”
The Oral Cancer Foundation estimates that nearly 48,250 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. By speaking candidly about his own journey, Douglas hopes more people will recognize the warning signs early — and seek prompt, thorough medical evaluation.
Human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted viral infection in the United States, has been proven to cause certain oral cancers and cervical cancer.
Although early detection and vaccination against HPV have led to a drop in cervical cancer in US women, HPV-associated cancer of the tonsils, throat, or back of the tongue has risen significantly in men over the last three decades.
Here is a list of the most common signs to look out for and seek medical attention for:
