Michael Douglas has opened up about the first signs of his stage four throat cancer in hopes of raising awareness. The 79-year-old actor revealed his symptoms began in 2010 with a sore throat that would not go away, despite repeated doctor visits. “I will always remember the look on his face,” he said of the Montreal doctor who finally spotted a walnut-sized tumor at the base of his tongue.

Douglas was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a form of oral cancer often linked to HPV (human papillomavirus). The actor believes HPV caused his cancer, a virus that can also lead to cervical cancer. “If sharing my story opens discussion and awareness, I’ll stand by that,” he said.

He underwent intense radiation and chemotherapy, losing 20kg on a liquid diet and battling extreme weakness. Thankfully, he is now cancer-free. The Oral Cancer Foundation reports that about 48,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year. Douglas urges people to pay attention to persistent symptoms, stressing that early detection can save lives.