Michael Douglas
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images North America

Michael Douglas, seen here in June, discussed his recent cancer diagnosis last night with David Letterman.

Michael Douglas finds himself with both a serious problem and a far less serious — but still sensitive — problem.

The serious problem is Stage 4 throat cancer. The less serious problem is that he got this diagnosis three weeks ago, and the Wall Street sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, which he'd normally make the full round of publicity outlets to promote, is opening September 24, at which point he'll be about halfway through an eight-week course of chemotherapy and radiation. Last night, Douglas spoke about his diagnosis and his treatment with David Letterman.

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There's not much for a celebrity to do in a situation like this, other than pick a place where you're comfortable and talk about it in whatever way makes you comfortable. Privacy has an asterisk here; when you're ill and your treatment alone forces you to power down during what would otherwise be an especially high-profile time for you, people will notice. Maybe if there were no movie, Douglas could have chosen to be treated quietly without saying much about it. But that's not this situation. In terms of keeping his illness out of the public eye if he so chose, there's probably no worse time he could have learned of it.

It's interesting to watch Letterman go through what certainly appear to be very real questions about what's happening: How did you find out? When did this happen? What are your odds? Was it caught early? And, most poignantly: You seem pretty good right now, so that's good, right?

Both of these guys handled this situation nicely in the end: Letterman was curious and compassionate, and Douglas was frank and cautious and gentle in explaining that yes, he looks good now, but ... it's only the first week of his treatment.

It's a lovely moment at the end when Letterman comes to the most human question of all, which is just this: "Boy, I feel like I want to do something for you. Can I do something for you?" And when Douglas says, "Awwww, gimme a hug!" you realize that they've actually each offered a kindness: Letterman gave him the hug and Douglas let that be the thing that Dave could do for him.