Oral cancer patients have received encouraging news following Michael Douglas’s openness about his symptoms.
In a 2013 interview with The Guardian, the well-known actor attributed his serious diagnosis to ‘cunnilingus.’ He later remarked at an event: “I never expected to become a poster boy for head and neck cancer, but, if after what started out as trying to answer a couple of questions about the suspected sources of this disease results in opening up discussion and furthering public awareness, then I’ll stand by that.”
During his struggle with the illness, Douglas underwent an eight-week regimen of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Presently, researchers suggest a new drug might transform recovery outcomes.
According to MailOnline, the drug, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), assists our immune systems in detecting hidden cancer cells and is currently available to NHS patients with lung, cervical, and breast cancers.
A recent clinical trial uncovered that this drug can suppress head and neck cancers for up to five years, a significant improvement from the 30 months typically achieved by standard treatments like surgery and the previously mentioned therapies.
The trial’s findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago, where it was also noted that cancer recurrence was observed in only half of the patients treated with pembrolizumab after five years, compared to the standard two-and-a-half-year timeline.
Furthermore, the trial demonstrated a 10 per cent reduction in the risk of cancer spreading to other parts of the body.
“For patients with newly-diagnosed, locally-advanced head and neck cancer, treatments haven’t changed in over two decades,” stated Kevin Harrington, a professor of biological cancer therapies at the Institute of Cancer Research, London.
“Immunotherapy has been amazingly beneficial for patients with cancer that has come back or spread around the body but, until now, it hasn’t been as successful for those presenting for the first time with disease which has spread to nearby areas.
“This research shows that immunotherapy could change the world for these patients—it significantly decreases the chance of cancer spreading around the body, at which point it’s incredibly difficult to treat.”
Meanwhile, Douglas, whose spouse Catherine Zeta-Jones appears in the second season of Netflix’s “Wednesday” as Morticia Addams, reflected on how he discovered his cancer diagnosis.
Douglas initially suffered from a persistent sore throat, but despite numerous doctor visits, his condition was overlooked.
It was only after consulting a medical friend in Montreal that the true cause of his ‘throat infection’ was identified.
“I will always remember the look on his face,” recounted the “Falling Down” actor.
“He said: ‘We need a biopsy.’ There was a walnut-size tumor at the base of my tongue that no other doctor had seen.”
Douglas was diagnosed with stage IV squamous cell carcinoma oral cancer, worrying he might need part of his jaw removed.
The side effects of his treatment were severe, resulting in burns to his palate. He declined a feeding tube and lost a significant 20 kg (45 pounds) while on a liquids-only diet.
“That’s a rough ride. That can really take it out of you. Plus the amount of chemo I was getting, it zaps all the good stuff too. It made me very weak,” he revealed.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.