Catherine Zeta-Jones Admits Turmoil Over Michael Douglas Throat Cancer Diagnosis

With divorce and split rumors aside, Catherine Zeta-Jones opened up about her mindset when Michael Douglas was diagnosed with throat cancer three years ago. And for the first time, she admits being a total wreck — like totally.

Sunday, in New York, where the A-list couple was invited to speak at the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies 5th World Congress, Catherine let on that life for her was testy, while her husband channeled a solider on the battle field, according to a Digital Spy report.

On Michael Douglas’ cancer, Catherine Zeta-Jones, 44, said this:

“I was a mess. I’ll be quite frank, I was a mess. When I’m married to a man who has such a conviction for life… he fights to make the wrongs right. For the first time he was fighting for his life.”

The Behind the Candelabra actor, 69, received the chilling cancer diagnosis, a type of malignancy thought to be related to the HPV infection (human papillomavirus), heavy smoking or drinking, and a host of other risk factors, according to the Mayo Clinic. Douglas endured seven weeks of intense chemotherapy and other treatments and lost a heap of weight along the way.

Zeta-Jones admitted experiencing a mix of emotions during her husband’s life-threatening battle, but she points to his strong spirit and resiliency in holding the family together.

Catherine and Michael recently reunited, having split briefly during his recovery. Around the same time, rumors circulated that the star-studded couple was divorcing after nearly 15 years of marriage. In 2000, they exchanged vows in a lavish ceremony in New York.

During a June interview, Douglas admitted to his past transgressions, stating that he regretted taking his wife for granted — a mistake he blames on age.

“When you are younger you care what other people think. And you take the person closest to you for granted. You waste a lot of energy on strangers to make a good impression,” he said.

In an earlier report by The Inquisitr, information surfaced that suggested another split was imminent, this time due to Catherine’s uncontrolled smoking habit. Supposedly Michael’s wife is a chain-smoker, often puffing away at two packs a day. Given that Douglas is a cancer survivor, secondhand smoke could be worrisome.

Perhaps the best evidence of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas’ atonement was when the actress said this at the conference:

I’m very happy to be here with my husband. I mean that literally… I’m very happy to be here with my husband.”

[Image via Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com]