It's oral sex, not smoking: Michael Douglas says his throat cancer was caused by stress and the human papillomavirus (HPV) - and also says 'cunnilingus is the best cure'

The Hollywood actor says a sexually transmitted disease caused his tumour

Michael Douglas has revealed his battle against throat cancer was caused by performing oral sex (AFP/Getty images)

Following Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy news there has never been a more appropriate time for celebrities to come out and talk seriously about cancer. But Hollywood actor and Behind the Candelabra star Michael Douglas might be accused of 'over sharing' after claiming in a recent interview that the cause of his throat cancer was oral sex - and that the cure for the disease was more of same.

The actor, 68, who is married to Welsh-born actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, said his stage-four cancer was contracted through the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV).

In an interview with The Guardian, Douglas denied that years of smoking and drinking were behind his near-fatal brush with cancer three years ago: "No, because without wanting to get too specific this particular cancer is caused by HPV which actually comes about from cunnilingus."

"I did worry if the stress caused by my son's incarceration didn't help trigger it. But yeah, it's a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer. And if you have it, cunnilingus is also the best cure for it."

However, Douglas' suggestion that cunnilingus is also a cure for throat cancer was disputed by medical professionals.

Douglas, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in August 2010, said that after "a rough few years" he is "back with a vengeance" and feels "blessed and fortunate to even be alive".

The actor, who is winning plaudits for his portrayal of Liberace in a Steven Soderbergh film for HBO alongside Matt Damon, broke down in tears describing his treatment for cancer in Cannes two weeks ago.

During a press call for Behind the Candelabra Douglas was overcome while thanking Soderbergh for patiently delaying filming for him while he underwent treatment.

"It was right after my cancer and then this beautiful gift was handed to me and I’m eternally grateful for everyone for waiting for me," Douglas remarked. As he struggled to regain his composure he was loudly applauded by the audience.

In a recent interview with the New York magazine the actor said he had beaten throat cancer after two specialists failed to initially diagnose him.

He said that beating the disease had given him a "new rejuvenation" and that "things had been going good for me for a long time" before the disease so his diagnosis three years ago in some way balanced things out.

Douglas has previously won two Oscars and four Golden Globes during his 40-year career. He is probably best known as Gordon Gekko in the Wall Street films.