Michael Douglas has throat cancer

Actor Michael Douglas smiles while being honoured at The Film Society of Lincoln Center's 2010 Chaplin Award Gala in New York City, in this May 24, 2010 file photo. Doctors have found a tumor in the throat of Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas and plan to treat the Wall Street star with radiation and chemotherapy over eight weeks, according to a story in People magazine dated August 16. Picture taken May 24, 2010. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi/Files (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT HEADSHOT)

This morning the world learned the unfortunate news that Michael Douglas has been diagnosed with a throat tumor. The word “cancer” has not been used by his camp yet, but it is assumed to be malignant since he is undergoing 8 weeks of radiation and chemotherapy treatments. So, what’s the Wall Street star’s prognosis?

This is very shortly on the heals of rabble-rouser journalist Chrispher Hitchens’ diagnosis of esophageal cancer, but the two famous men’s cases are wildly different. Christopher Hitchen’s cancer is advanced, stage IV, and has spread to his lymph nodes, lungs, and possibly other places, but from the sound of Michael Douglas’ press reports, his tumor was caught early.

Doctor’s expect a “full recovery,” and Michael Douglas has issued this to-the-point statement about the situation: “I am very optimistic.”

Dr. Jennifer Ashton told CBS Early show that “about 50 to 80 percent of these types of cancers can be cured,” but the radiation treatment can be difficult and cause sores in the mouth.

Gorden Gecko can beat this!

Speaking of Gecko, Douglas can be seen on the big screen reprising his role as the power-hungry devil everyone loves to hate (and many people want to be) starting September 24th in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

He’s receiving treatment at an undisclosed location outside of the United States, and many believe he’s at his home in Bermuda with wife Catherine Zeta-Jones.