Michael Douglas honoured by American Cancer Society

Actor Michael Douglas was feted by the American Cancer Society at the organisation’s 100th anniversary gala in New York City this week (beg03Jun13). The organisation’s One Centennial Celebration on Monday (03Jun13) was also a tribute to late composer Marvin Hamlisch, who died last year (12) and would have turned 69 on Sunday (02Jun13).
The Wall Street star, who recovered from throat cancer in 2011, was handed the inaugural Marvin Hamlisch Memorial Award during the glitzy ceremony, and in his speech he addressed his recent headline-grabbing comments about the links between cancer and HPV, the human papillomavirus, which can be transmitted through oral sex.
In his acceptance speech he said, “I have one footnote to make. I’ve become, I think, in the past 24 hours a sort of poster boy for oral cancer, and just so you all understand, I think we would all love to know where our cancer comes from.
“I simply, to a reporter, tried to give a little PSA (public service) announcement about HPV, a virus that can cause oral cancer, and is one of the few areas of cancer that can be controlled and there are vaccinations that kids can get. So that was my attempt.”
The star-studded event was held at the Hudson Theatre At The Millennium Broadway Hotel in Manhattan.