Monday, June 3, 2013 5:25:09 EDT PM

Actor Michael Douglas believes oral sex gave him throat cancer.

The Oscar winner was diagnosed three years ago but fought the disease and is now working towards a full recovery.

He tells Britain’s The Guardian newspaper he initially thought the stress of his son Cameron’s incarceration brought on his cancer, but he has since learned he may have contracted it from cunnilingus.

Douglas, who has persistently battled claims he was a sex addict long before he wed Catherine Zeta-Jones, says, "Without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV (human papillomavirus), which actually comes about from cunnilingus.

"I did worry if the stress caused by my son’s incarceration didn’t help trigger it. But yeah, it’s a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer. And if you have it, cunnilingus is also the best cure for it."

Cancer experts believe HPV, a sexually transmitted virus which causes cervical and anal cancer, is a contributing factor in the rise of throat cancer.