'It broke my heart' Michael Douglas on cancer diagnosis being same year his son was jailed
MICHAEL DOUGLAS has said he found out he had throat cancer around the same time as his son was sent to prison for heroin possession; with him describing the summer of 2010 as his "darkest moment".
Michael Douglas spoke out about his cancer battle and his son being jailed
The 71-year-old was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer six years ago and as he received the tragic news, his then 30-year-old son Cameron was jailed for five years for heroin possession.
He spoke out about the whole thing in a candid interview with Megyn Kelly, with him saying: "That was a one-two shot, that was a pretty dark moment."
Cameron was sent to prison after police found him with a stash of heroin in a New York hotel room, with him going on to serve three years of his sentence before guards found drugs in his cell.
His sentence was then upgraded to 10 years and he was put in solitary confinement from 2012 until 2014.
Michael opened up in an interview with Megyn Kelly
Actor described the summer of 2010 as 'pretty dark'
'I lucked out' Michael Douglas on wife Catherine Zeta Jones
Michael went on: "My oldest son Cameron has struggled with addiction for most of his life, he was a serious heroin addict, that brought him into federal prison.
"It broke my heart, the combination. When he was sentenced, I knew the amount of time he was going to be spending in federal prison combined with my early cancer at the same time."
The actor - who has been married to Catherine Zeta-Jones for 15 years - was given the all-clear in late 2011 and has been in remission ever since.
Michael with his son Cameron
Star has been open about his battle with cancer
He previously spoke out about his cancer battle, with him admitting that that year had been particularly tough.
Michael explained back in 2010: “My doctors are optimistic. I’m optimistic and obviously a combination of radiation every day and chemo limits a full day but everybody did a fantastic job and life goes on.
“So, no, this is just another chapter. I’ve had a pretty good run of it and this was a pretty bad year.
“I’m just taking it a day at a time, trying to do my homework and keep up with the program," he added to The Sun.