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Affected by tongue cancer in 2010, actor Michael Douglas, then married to Catherine Zeta-Jones, explains in detail his illness. Statements that made – in the eyes of some – his wife “responsible” for his state of health.
Remember: in 2010, Michael Douglas speaks openly about the cancer that affects him, advanced throat cancer, according to his words. In reality, the actor is affected by cancer of the tongue, information that he hid and which will not be revealed until three years later, in 2013.
Tongue cancer caused by HPV
When the actor looks back on his illness, he explains that tongue cancer is caused by a papillomavirus, contracted during certain sexual practices, in particular cunnilingus. “This particular cancer is caused by HPV which actually comes from cunnilingus. It is a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer.” he says then. Other risk factors for tongue cancer include tobacco and alcohol.
However, these statements were enough to blame his wife Catherine Zeta Jones for his cancer and what Michael Douglas will regret. “I’ve been so sorry for all the embarrassment this has caused Catherine and her family.” explains the actor a few years later. “I was trying to make a public health announcement” he justifies himself, drawing attention to this emerging cancer.
Can an ENT cancer, caused by HPV, be caused by one’s spouse?
Asked about the question, Professor Eric Caumes, infectious disease specialist and author of the book “Sex: the new dangers” published by Bouquins, wants to recall two main principles. “From the stage of infection to cancer, it takes many years, between ten and twenty years, on average. In the case of Michael Douglas, this therefore refers to all the partners he had at that time and not particularly to Catherine Zeta Jones. The second important point to emphasize is that the carriers of this virus are asymptomatic, most often, thus not even knowing that they are contaminated.
Is the HPV vaccine effective?
“The vaccine has actually shown good efficacy against cancer of the cervix in women. By analogy, it is estimated that it is also effective for ENT or anal cancers, for example, that it can also cause. But these are recently emerging cancers, so we haven’t had time to scientifically prove these beneficial effects.“says the infectious disease specialist.
In France, vaccination coverage against HPV, with a non-compulsory but recommended vaccine, remains low: less than one girl in two is completely vaccinated in 2022 and less than 10% of young boys.