Michael Douglas has spoken candidly about his throat cancer diagnosis and the medical explanation doctors later gave him, shedding light on a topic that was once rarely discussed publicly: the link between certain cancers and HPV.

The actor was diagnosed with stage IV throat cancer in 2010, a revelation that shocked fans and temporarily halted his career. At the time, Douglas said he was initially told the cancer could have been caused by lifestyle factors such as smoking or alcohol use, a common assumption detailed in American Cancer Society guidance.

It was only later, during further consultations, that doctors explained his cancer was associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), a widespread infection that can increase the risk of oropharyngeal cancers. Medical experts interviewed in public health reporting note that HPV-related throat cancers have risen sharply in recent decades, particularly among men.

Douglas addressed the diagnosis publicly to raise awareness rather than provoke controversy. He explained that learning the cause of his illness reframed how he understood the disease, a perspective echoed in clinical explanations of HPV-related cancers, which emphasize that the virus is extremely common and often symptomless for years.