Michael Douglas reveals how much weight he lost from cancer caused by oral sex

Michael Douglas has opened up about his battle with stage four throat cancer in 2010, after writing about the 'traumatizing' journey in his new book.

The Basic Instinct actor was extremely candid about his battle with cancer, which he claims was caused by performing oral sex, following his diagnosis more than 15 years ago.

But in his new novel 'One Helluva Ride', the star has opened up about the impact it had on his body, as well as how the diagnosis affect his family.

Reflecting on the stage four diagnosis in 2013, Douglas noted that 'without wanting to get too specific', his particular cancer was caused by 'HPV [human papillomavirus], which actually comes about from cunnilingus [a form of oral sex]'.

Speaking with the Guardian, he added: "Yeah, it's a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer. And if you have it, cunnilingus is also the best cure for it."

Writing of that time on his life, now 82, the actor noted that he lost a lot of weight during his treatment.

Douglas was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer in 2010. (Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

The dad-of-three admitted that he dropped around 40 pounds 'that I didn’t really have to lose'.

He swiftly underwent seven weeks of radiation and chemotherapy treatment, which he described as 'the seven circles of hell',

He wrote: "At first, the pain was bad but manageable, but by the third week I was in real trouble."

But the star also noted that his devastating diagnosis also brought on 'hard moments' for his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and their children.

Douglas penned: "The kids were too young to understand how these magazines operate, so it was traumatizing for them.

He admitted that cancer 'humbled' him. (Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images)

"The couch had become my chair, my desk, my table, my bed, my life raft on a sea of complete exhaustion."

And the Fatal Attraction actor admitted he simply couldn't believe his doctor when they told him he was in remission following treatment.

"I broke down crying," he wrote, as the 82-year-old said: "To say cancer humbled me would be an understatement. It made me more thankful for everything in my life."

Further reflecting on his journey, he added: "It’s difficult to talk about, but it felt like a rebirth. My priorities changed. Cancer showed me what family is. It made feel a love that I never knew really existed.

"I saw everything a little bit clearer, and a little bit brighter, and became far more conscious of how I spent my time."