Ex-smoker Michael Douglas Has Throat Cancer

Michael Douglas faces his toughest role yet: a real-life cancer patient. The 65-year-old ex-smoker is preparing for an eight-week treatment regimen that will include radiation and chemotherapy. The good news, according to Dr. Robert Haddad, an oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, is that Douglas is expected to make a full recovery, even though his cancer is believed to be in an advanced state.

The road to recovery will not be easy; following the chemotherapy and radiation treatment, Douglas will likely need to be fed from a tube for some time, as swallowing will be difficult. Upon a full recovery, Douglas will also need to make some life adjustments. In addition to never smoking again, he will also need to steer clear of second-hand smoke and alcohol.

Douglas was very open about his half-a-pack-a-day habit, which he kicked in 2006. The Academy Award-winning actor recently completed a sequel to the 1987 hit, Wall Street, which is due out in September. Douglas won the Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of the calculating, reptilian financial executive Gordon Gekko.