What Will Happen to Michael Douglas' Voice?

By PopEater Staff Posted Aug 18th 2010 07:56AM

Michael Douglas announced this week that a tumor has been discovered in his throat, and now outside doctors are warning that the aggressive treatment he'll undergo could alter, or even take away, his voice.

The 'Wall Street' star, 65, will undergo radiation and chemotherapy for eight weeks to destroy the tumor. "I am very optimistic," Douglas said in a statement. Other than that confirmation, little else is known about the star's condition, including the size of the tumor. Experts in the field say the actor faces a tough -- but winnable -- fight.

"You wouldn't treat a benign tumor with radiation, so most definitely this is a malignant tumor," Dr. Eric Genden, chief of head and neck cancer surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center, told the Daily Mirror.

Dr. Kenneth Hu, co-director of the Head and Neck Institute at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, told 'Good Morning America' that the fact that Douglas is getting radiation at this stage hints that the cancer is beatable, but that his voice will likely emerge hoarser than it was. If surgery is necessary, there is an increased risk of permanently damaging the actor's vocal chords.

Douglas' voice can be heard every weekday evening as the announcer for NBC's 'Nightly News' program. He's had the job since 2007.

The star decided to consult a doctor a few weeks ago after his voice became hoarse and he started having trouble swallowing. It's unknown how large or far along the tumor is.

Not surprisingly, Douglas' longtime smoking and drinking habits are being blamed for bringing on the throat cancer.

"That combination is, unfortunately, a recipe for the development of throat cancer," Hu said.

This news comes during a rough year for Douglas, whose son Cameron was recently jailed for five years on drug charges. He has canceled his promotional appearances for 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.'

The Oscar-winning actor is married to Welsh actress Catherine Zeta Jones. They have two children, Dylan Michael and Carys Zeta.

He has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards, first as producer of 1975's Best Picture, 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' and as Best Actor in 1987 for his role in 'Wall Street.' Douglas received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2009.

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Michael Douglas Snapshots

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones, right, pose during a visit to the Children's Hospital for Wales in Cardiff, where they met staff and children on Friday, July 23, 2010.

Michael Douglas Snapshots

FILE - In this 1987 file film publicity image originally released by 20th Century Fox, Charlie Sheen, left, and Michael Douglas are shown in a scene from "Wall Street." (AP Photo/20th Century Fox, File) NO SALES

Michael Douglas Snapshots

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones visit the Cardiff Children's Hospital to raise funds for the "Noah's Ark Appeal." NON-EXCLUSIVE July 23, 2010 Job: 100723X3 Cardiff, Wales www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com [KGC-147]

Michael Douglas Snapshots

** CORRECTS HOME TOWN OF CHILD ** Actress Catherine Zeta Jones plays with Catrin Verdin, aged seven, from Aberaeron, Wales, in the children's play room during a visit to the Children's Hospital for Wales in Cardiff, where she and her husband Michael Douglas met staff and children Friday, July 23, 2010. The film star couple appealed for donations to help complete the next stage of work four years after they officially opened the hospital. (AP Photo/Ben Birchall/PA Wire) ** UNITED KINGDOM OUT, NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE, EDITORIAL USE ONLY **

Michael Douglas Snapshots

Tags: Michael Douglas

Comments

(47)

Thursday 14 October

By AUGIE

Vote down Vote up Report this

YOUR SICK, FOR YOU TO SAY THAT SMOKING CURES CANCER, YOU NEED HELP!!! augie

Wednesday 18 August

By JEAN

BY ME HAVING AN ENDOSCOPY I HAD HEART PROBLEMS AND HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY.
SO ENDOSCOPY IS GOOD IF YOU ARE HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS YOUR REGULAR DR. CAN' FIND

Thursday 19 August

By pocahontas

Jack Klugman had almost a realted thing happen to him..
His voice is just a whisper... at least he is healthy!

By Marcia

At his age, an endoscopy and a cholonoscopy are routine procedures. He should have been having them every few years.

By cotoothdoc

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I was a victim of the same type of cancr 10 years ago. I went to several "top" cancer centers in the US and ALL only gave me a 20 - 25 % chance of living for 2 - 3 years; but only if I had a radical neck disection. That is a procedure where the surgeon cuts out all the "good" tissue until they take out the "bad" tissue. But, they never put the good tissue back in. Some of the "possible" post surgery effects are loss of arm motion, loss of voice, permanent facical and neck disfigurement, etc. So, I went to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston TX. At that time - and for the past 8 / 9 years including 2010 - rated the NUMBER 1 CANCER TREATMENT HOSPITAL in the country. They treated me with out surgery and gacve me a 90% survival. That was 10 years ago - and here I am. Why Douglas would fool around with the minor league groups in California when the major league - world series level - team is just a couple hours away to east, is beyond me. My sympathy to Michael Douglas and may he have a full recovery

By 007

Wow, I wish you nothing but many blessings after what you've been through.
And all the best to M. Douglas and his family. He's a tough cookie, he'll be fine;))

By a victor

Thanks for your positive input here. So glad to hear you proved the docs wrong and are here to tell the story ten years later. I am 18 months out of treatment for same and appreciate you setting the record that this can be beat and docs even at the so-called "Centers of excellence" don't have crystal balls and other options exist.

By PAT

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ONE MORE LIB WE WONT HAVE TO LISTEN TO.

By Alonso

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Pat, though I shoudn't be, I'm sorry about the attitude you've chosen. What has liberality or conservatility have to do with a deadly disease? Please becareful because someone may be saying the same thing about in a short while. Perhaps you don't believe in retrobution but Itell you sir it does happen and it doesn't take very long. I don't know you sir but I wish you and your family well.

AWESOME

By Tena

It is not enough that Michael Douglas has to deal with the trauma of radiation and chemo, but the media has to speculate about this and that and the problems he MAY encounter. People who pray and optimists recover faster and face fewer problems than people who don't. I'm guessing he is at least an optimist.

By John

I totally agree. He's not a singer, and like it's his livelyhoood. He's an actor. He can always get parts that require very little talking. The main thing is that he survives this problem, and just gets to live his life.

By guy

"Could Michael Douglas lose his voice"? GOD I HOPE SO!!!!

By jleiper

My husband didn't smoke or drink. He had throat cancer. He can hardly speak clearly. Has survived 8 years with chemo and radiation. Life isn't the same.

By gpillariii

Actually, the correct term would be "vocal folds." And I wish the author of this article had delved into the details a little more. Losing one's voice is a serious repercussion of treatment, as our voices are an integral part of who we are. Damage to the vocal folds can be life-threatening if serious enough, as they are responsible in part for keeping foreign bodies out of our tracheas. I hope he pulls through this very difficult time.

By motichanda

The chemo will make him sick, the radiation will burn his skin and organs surrounding the cancer area. All they care is to have him get the therapy. He will never be the same again and all in the hopes of living a little longer. It's quality of life and not the length of life. With stage 3 they will have to be agressive and although I wish him well and hope he goes into remission, I don't think he will make 5 years.

By Patsy Boyle Hagner

You sir, will be just fine, a fight ahead yes, you'll have Cathrines Irish grandmother praying like crazy for you, for some reason they have alot of pull with you know who...God Bless

By the jake

listen the chemo and radiation are to shrink the tumor so they can cut out part of his throat. he may end up talking with a voice activator so he sounds like froggy. if he were a real man he would stand up and say ..don't smoke!. that may help save one idiot kid who smokes. but hey you look cool when you you smoke. now michael should be able to look back and say hey i was cool and all hip so it was worth it1

By pikleseed

An endoscopy only goes in the STOMACH and not the trachea or anything to do with breathing. It would not have seen anything on his layrnx. Geeze people read up on prodedures.

By Brenda

All I can say is that I wish the best for him and his family. Cancer is such a horrible disease that no one should get. Hope he doesn't suffer too much with the treatments. Also hope that they got it in time . Good Luck Michael

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