Michael Douglas has cancer

The Oscar winning star will start eight weeks of radiation on his...

11:27 17 August 2010

Oscar winning actor Michael Douglas has been diagnosed with a tumour in his throat.

The Hollywood legend, who won academy awards for producing 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' and starring in 'Wall Street'  will undergo eight weeks of radiation and chemotherapy.

The 65-year-old star expects to make a full recovery with the backing of his team of doctors. Douglas said in a statement to People magazine: "I am very optimistic."

A spokesperson for the actor refused to confirm what type of cancer the star is afflicted with, when it was discovered or when treatment is expected to begin.

The 'Fatal Attraction' star is now said to be resting with his wife, Catherine Zeta Jones, and their two children Dylan, 10 and Carys, seven.

When diagnosed in their early stages, throat tumours are cured in 90% of cases. Chemotherapy treatment is, however, often used in conjunction with radiation for more advanced throat cancers.

The tumour comes at a time just after Douglas went through another personal battle -  his son Cameron from a previous marriage, 31, was jailed for five years in April for drugs offences.

Michael said in June: "I've had a rough year on the personal front."

Douglas' other films include the hits 'Basic Instinct', 'Romancing the Stone', 'War of the Roses', 'The American President' and 'Falling Down'.