During a Guardian interview published on Sunday, Douglas was asked about his throat cancer and if he felt that he had "overloaded his system" with drinking and smoking.
Douglas replied: "No. Because, without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV [human papillomavirus], which actually comes about from cunnilingus."
The actor, who is now 68, was diagnosed with cancer in August 2010. It was stage four cancer, which is often thought to be terminal. He went on an eight-week course of chemotherapy and radiation. The treatment worked and Douglas has now been without cancer for two years.
Douglas went on to say in the interview that he had worried that the throat cancer was caused by the stress of his son being incarcerated for selling crystal meth, but "it's a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer."
He also added, "And if you have it, cunnilingus is also the best cure for it."
HPV has been linked to throat cancer, reports Bloomberg and the New Scientist. It is known to cause cervical cancer and has also been linked to vulvar, vaginal, penile, and anal cancer.
The Guardian also wrote a follow-up article on the facts behind Douglas' statement, which also noted a link between HPV and oral sex, but did not agree with the idea that cunnilingus could help cure the condition saying that medically "that just doesn't make sense."