Michael Douglas's cancer? He blames sex

NOW THAT Michael Douglas' comeback from cancer is complete with his over-the-top role as Liberace in HBO's "Beyond the Candelabra," he's been doing a lot of press.

Here's what he told the Guardian in Great Britain about his recent throat cancer.

It was caused by oral sex.

No, not from getting it.

The Guardian asked Douglas if his cancer scare made him question his decades of smoking and drinking, and he replied, "No. Because without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV [human papillomavirus], which actually comes about from cunnilingus."

Guess that means wife Catherine Zeta-Jones didn't question it, either.

Douglas did say that he was concerned that elevated stress levels caused by his son Cameron's jail time may have helped trigger the cancer, but learned that it was the STD that caused it.

"And if you have it," "Dr." Douglas said, "cunnilingus is also the best cure for it."

Sure it is.

Actual doctors questioned by the Guardian were not too keen on prescribing that cure.

* Rock icon Lou Reed is recovering after a liver transplant, according to an interview with his wife, Laurie Anderson, published in Britain's Times of London.

Anderson said that Reed "was dying" before the operation several weeks ago at the Cleveland Clinic.

She said Reed, 71, isn't yet back to full strength, but "he's already working and doing tai chi."

"I don't think he'll every totally recover from this, but he'll certainly be back to doing [things] in a few months," she said.

"I'm very happy. It's a new life for him."

Reed, co-founder of the Velvet Underground, has spoken of his past alcohol and drug use.

It is not believed that his liver failed due to oral sex.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie walked a black carpet together yesterday at the London premiere of Brad's zombie-apocalypse thriller "World War Z." It was Angelina's first public appearance since announcing last month that she had undergone a double mastectomy.

The couple said they had been moved by the public support that followed her disclosure.

Angelina told reporters she felt great, and had "been very happy to see the discussion about women's health expanded" by her announcement.

Angelina revealed that, beginning in February, she underwent three surgeries - which she succeeded in keeping secret from the public - in which her breasts were removed, and later replaced by implants. She said the procedure had reduced her chance of developing breast cancer from 87 percent to less than 5 percent.

("World War Z," by the way, was shot in Great Britain even though much of it is set in Philadelphia.)

* Us Weekly's fetal attraction paid off again as it reported first that Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan-Tatum became first-time parents Thursday in London.

It's a girl.

* The BBC said yesterday that Matt Smith is stepping down from the lead role in the long-running sci-fi series "Doctor Who." He will leave after a November episode to mark the show's 50th anniversary, and a Christmas special.

Doctor Who is a time-traveling, extraterrestrial Time Lord who can regenerate into new bodies. Smith is the 11th actor to play the character since the series began in 1963.

Since you can bet on just about anything in Great Britain, bookmaker William Hill made "Being Human" star Russell Tovey and "Harry Potter" alumnus Rupert Grint 10-1 favorites to become the next Who, followed by stage star Rory Kinnear and "Homeland" actor David Harewood.

Hill also offered 8-1 odds on the next Doctor being female.

That's Tattle's bet.

* Wow, London was busy this weekend.

Beyonce, John Legend, Jennifer Lopez and Madonna performed at a star-studded charity concert for women's rights at Twickenham Stadium, the home of English rugby.

Beyonce headlined the concert in support of Chime for Change, a campaign set up to help empower girls and women around the world.

The singer, sporting a slinky leather bodysuit, had the 50,000-strong crowd in a frenzy when she performed "Crazy in Love" - joined onstage by husband Jay-Z.

She also performed hits including "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)," "Run The World (Girls)," "Halo" and the Destiny's Child classic "Survivor."

"It's time for change. Let's chime for change. This is such an incredible night for me," Bey said.

Earlier, Simon Le Bon performed with Timbaland, and J-Lo and Mary J. Blige sang the Beatles' "Come Together," as a raft of stars united for the Sound of Change Live show, which also featured Legend, Florence + The Machine and Rita Ora.

Madonna, Freida Pinto, Aishwarya Rai, Jada Pinkett Smith, James Franco, Ryan Reynolds, Jessica Chastain and Gloria Steinem were among the presenters. Even Prince Harry sent a videotaped message of support.

* According to the Los Angeles Times, Philip Seymour Hoffman has left a detox center that he entered to get ahead of drug problems that are said to have been spinning out of control, according to reports.

Hoffman told TMZ.com that his drug problem started with prescription pills and escalated to snorting heroin.

And they say marijuana is a gateway drug.

- Daily News wire services

contributed to this report.

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