Stage 4 Throat Cancer Disclosed by Michael Douglas on Letterman

Stage 4 throat cancer is a very severe diagnosis. For Michael Douglas, his stage 4 throat cancer fight has just begun, although no stages of throat cancer could keep him from visiting David Letterman. Ever since Douglas was diagnosed with the disease weeks ago, he was expected to undergo several weeks of radiation. Yet he also has a movie to promote - which happens to return him to his most iconic role. So Douglas decided to disclose his stage 4 throat cancer to David Letterman last night, while plugging Wall Street 2.

Douglas's Late Night visit was his first public appearance since his diagnosis. By now, most knew that he had throat cancer, but they did not know how severe it was. When Douglas came out, he appeared a big thinner, since he is one week into his radiation and chemo treatments.

Douglas quickly set the record straight by saying he has stage 4 throat cancer, which made at least one audience member gasp. The news of Douglas's health had been widely publicized, but the stage and severity of his disease had not been leaked yet.

According to CancerConnect.com, stage 4 throat cancer can spread to tissues around the lips and mouth. It spreads beyond the original tumor, towards lymph nodes on one or both sides of the neck. The chances for a cure are very small, but Douglas reassured Letterman that it was still treatable.

Once the news first got out, Douglas's representatives expressed confidence that he would beat the disease. But with the stage 4 throat cancer diagnosis, it shows just how difficult the fight would be. However, Douglas gave himself an 80 percent chance of recovery.

Despite his health battles, Douglas is still taking time to promote his new movie. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps puts him back in Gordon Gekko's shoes, as his latest schemes will be unveiled on September 24. Douglas did his job to plug the film, as he had booked his Letterman appearance right before he was diagnosed - which he and Letterman joked about for a bit.

Douglas has had a public smoking and drinking problem in the past, which he admitted to be a possible cause of the disease. Most had already guessed that, but the stage 4 throat cancer news proves just how extensive it was. However, Douglas is still maintaining his public confidence, as his treatment progresses through the early stages.

Sources

The Wrap- "Michael Douglas Says He Has Stage IV Throat Cancer (video)"

Cancer Connect- "Throat Cancer: Cancer News"

MSNBC.com- "Michael Douglas reveals throat cancer at stage 4"