Michael Douglas Refused a Feeding Tube During Cancer Treatment and Lost 45 Pounds – Video Shows His Changed Appearance

Months of unexplained discomfort eventually led the Hollywood star to a diagnosis that required intensive treatment and changed his appearance. See photos of him beforehand and a video revealing his slimmer frame after treatment at the end of the article.

Michael Douglas had already spent decades as one of Hollywood's most recognizable actors and producers when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2010.

He first gained major television exposure on "The Streets of San Francisco." By the late 1980s, Douglas had become a major film star, with "Fatal Attraction" and "Wall Street" arriving in 1987.

More than two decades later, however, his career was interrupted by a serious health problem that took a prolonged period of time to diagnose. It all began with the actor experiencing oral discomfort for months before receiving answers.

Several specialists failed to identify the tumor in his mouth and prescribed antibiotics instead. The Hollywood star eventually visited a friend's doctor in Montreal, who examined his mouth and immediately called for further testing. Douglas recalled:

"I will always remember the look on his face."

The doctor told him, "We need a biopsy," as a walnut-sized tumor had been found at the base of his tongue. By August 2010, the actor was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

That same month, he appeared on "Late Show with David Letterman" and publicly discussed the diagnosis. The "Fatal Attraction" star subsequently began an intensive treatment program consisting of eight weeks of chemotherapy and radiation.

The treatment affected his ability to eat, with radiation burning his palate. Douglas nevertheless refused a feeding tube and remained on a liquid-only diet. Over the course of treatment, he lost about 45 pounds, while the chemotherapy left him physically weak.

"That's a rough ride. That can really take it out of you," he revealed in 2013. Discussing the amount of chemotherapy he received, Douglas added, "It made me very weak."

The diagnosis came during another difficult period in the actor's family. His eldest son, Cameron Douglas, had been sentenced to five years in federal prison in 2010 following drug charges.

When discussing his cancer three years later, Douglas said he had initially wondered whether the stress surrounding Cameron's incarceration had played a role in triggering the illness.

However, during the same interview, the actor addressed what he believed had caused the cancer. When asked whether he regretted his previous smoking and drinking, he said no and revealed:

"Because, without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV."

He described HPV as a sexually transmitted virus and linked his diagnosis to oral sex. Fortunately, by June 2013, his condition had improved substantially.

When asked about his health, Douglas answered, "Good, thanks. I have to check in regularly — now it's every six months — but I'm more than two years clear. And with this kind of cancer, 95 percent of the time, it doesn't come back."

His return to acting included "Behind the Candelabra," director Steven Soderbergh's biographical drama about entertainer Liberace. Douglas played the flamboyant pianist opposite Matt Damon as Scott Thorson.

The project had initially been expected to begin filming earlier, closer to the end of Douglas's cancer treatment, but production was delayed for about a year. The Hollywood star even said he had worried that the film might never be made.

Once production finally began, however, he realized that he would not have been physically ready to take on the role a year earlier. "As soon as I got on set I thought, 'Man, I never would have been able to do this a year ago; it would have finished me off,'" he recalled.

The actor had previously met Liberace briefly while visiting Palm Springs, where his father had a weekend home. Douglas remembered being stopped near the entertainer's Rolls-Royce convertible and noticing his gold jewelry, diamond rings, and carefully styled hair.

Years later, he drew on a much broader transformation to portray Liberace on screen. "Behind the Candelabra" arrived at a significant point in his return to work, and Douglas admitted:

"Coming out of all those personal issues, to be offered a part like this. It's like nirvana."

When Douglas was interviewed at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013, he was 68 and continuing to regain the weight he had lost. "It's been a rough few years, the cancer break. But I'm back with a vengeance," he said, adding, "I feel blessed and fortunate that I'm even alive."

Michael Douglas's appearance changed noticeably during the eight weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. The photos below show him before treatment, while the video captures his slimmer frame following the 45-pound loss.

Michael Douglas Before Treatment

Michael Douglas's Weight Loss