Michael Douglas getting back to his old self

Michael Douglas is starting to feel like his “old self”. The 66-year-old actor — who completed chemotherapy for throat cancer in November 2010 — is feeling “good” after the troubles of recent years, but is still working on regaining weight.

“I feel pretty good,” he said. “After a rough treatment programme I’m getting back to feeling like my old self.

“I’m still working on regaining weight and improving my conditioning, but it’s coming along well. The most important thing is the cancer is gone and hasn’t come back — for the first year after my treatment I have to have it checked each month, but the doctors are very positive.”

The Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps star — who has children Dylan, 10 and Carys, eight, with Welsh actress wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, as well as grown up son Cameron with ex-wife Diandra — now appreciates life a lot more because of his illness.

“It makes you more intensely appreciative of everything you have in life. I’ve been incredibly blessed in terms of the kind of life I’ve had and the success I’ve enjoyed,” he added.

“I’ve been so lucky to meet an incredible woman like Catherine and start another family with her, and be a much better father than I was the first time around. So going through this last year and battling cancer has brought me even close to my family and friends.”