Michael Douglas At 80: Battling Cancer And Embracing A Healthier Life

Let's talk about Michael Douglas. This guy's got a story worth sharing. At 80, he’s looking good, feeling good, and staying sharp—but he's not letting his past battle with cancer slip his mind. After going through something that almost took him out, he’s learned to take life seriously and not take a single day for granted.

Here's the scoop, according to a source close to the actor and shared exclusively with Closer: “People sometimes forget that Michael went through cancer, but he sure hasn’t. That whole ordeal—chemo, nausea, pain—it’s something he carries with him every day. He’s constantly worried about getting sick again.” This Academy Award-winning legend celebrated his 80th birthday just last month, and his perspective on life has never been sharper.

Stage Four Cancer: The Battle That Changed Everything

Back in 2010, the star of Wall Street was hit with some tough news: he was diagnosed with stage four tongue cancer. Now, here’s the kicker—although it was tongue cancer, he initially told the public it was throat cancer. Why? Well, his doctor advised him to do so. If they’d had to operate on his tongue back then, it could’ve led to facial disfiguration, and that would’ve been a real threat to his thriving career.

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But Michael didn’t give up. He went through aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and by January 2011, he was declared tumor-free. He’s been nothing but grateful to the medical team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, crediting them with literally saving his life.

Now, you might think that once the all-clear came, life would go back to normal. But nope. That health scare is something Michael will carry with him forever. It’s what’s driven him to make some serious lifestyle changes.

Turning Life Around: Michael's New Routine

So, how’s he keeping himself in top shape? For starters, he’s completely overhauled his diet. He’s sticking to a gluten-free regimen, avoiding booze, cigarettes, and caffeine like the plague. Dessert? Not so much anymore—he’s cut way back on sugar. He’s also getting regular check-ups, taking vitamin supplements to boost his immune system, and exercising every single day to maintain his stamina and muscle mass.

Here’s the kicker: this guy used to hate exercise. Hate it. But now, he’s doing multiple sets of one-armed push-ups without breaking a sweat. That’s a huge change from the guy who wasn’t exactly active before his diagnosis. Michael’s got a goal, and it’s a big one: he’s determined to live until he’s 100, just like his dad, Kirk, who passed away in February 2020 at the age of 103.

Catherine Zeta-Jones: A Partner Through Thick and Thin

This battle with cancer wasn’t just tough on Michael—it hit his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, hard too. In 2014, the Chicago actress opened up about the struggle at a medical conference in New York. “I was a mess. I’ll be quite frank, I was a mess,” she said, recalling Michael’s diagnosis.

She went on to say, “When you're married to someone who fights so hard for life, someone who fights to make wrongs right, it’s inspiring. For the first time, he was fighting for his life. I’m incredibly happy to be here this morning with my husband. I mean that sincerely. I’m very happy to be here with my husband.”

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Speaking at the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies’ conference, the Fatal Attraction star added, “In every sense of the word, I’m very fortunate to be here today.”

And guess what? Catherine and Michael are still very much in love. For their joint September 25 birthday, she shared a nostalgic black-and-white photo of them on Instagram, captioning it, “Happy Birthday to Michael and to me!! This was us on our birthday 25 years ago! I love you with all my heart.”

That same day, she shared a fun nude photo, wearing nothing but high heels. With a playful caption, she joked, “In my birthday suit! After over 25 years of sharing my birthday day with my husband, I am running out of gift ideas! This is gift option two, golf balls being option one… of course.”