In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, the famous Hollywood actor Michael Douglas talked about his battle with throat cancer. He stated that he did not regret the years of drinking and smoking and that they were not responsible for his condition, but rather the human papillomavirus that he contracted while cunnilingus. The actor, who has been married to Catherine Zeta-Jones since 2000, was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer in August 2010. That same year, his son Cameron Douglas received a five-year effective sentence after pleading guilty to the charges in distribution of methamphetamines and possession of heroin. The actor wonders if stress contributed to the illness. Human papilloma virus causes genital warts and cervical malignancies. It is classified as a sexually transmitted infection. It is still a matter of debate whether the virus can cause cancer of the oral mucosa. Some scientists are of the opinion that, in combination with smoking and alcohol, the virus can cause cancer of the oral cavity. Some of the strains can cause persistent infections that eventually turn into cancer. NEWS_MORE_BOX According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, about 12,000 malignancies in men are diagnosed each year related to the papillomavirus. The most common tumor diseases are those of the oropharynx (the back of the throat, the base of the tongue and the tonsils). Most infections are asymptomatic all or most of the time. After the interview, the former wife of Michael Douglas – Diandra Douglas, announced that she had never been infected with the virus. Meanwhile, the actor’s spokesman, Alan Burry, set out to clear his client’s reputation, explaining to The Associated Press that in the interview he was not admitting to being infected through cunnilingus, but was only citing it as a possible route of infection. Asked what the real cause of his client’s cancer was then, Mr Bury said it should not be a matter for public discussion. While contracting the papillomavirus through oral sex is not impossible, the chances of it seeming to be slim. HPV-16 and HPV-18 strains cause 70% of cervical cancers. For throat cancer, the HPV-16 strain is the most risky.