(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Michael Douglas says cancer helped prove to him a great bond with his family and friends.

The megastar actor was treated for advanced cancer following the find of a large tumour inside his throat last year.

But this week Michael revealed he thinks he has beaten the illness and hopes to make a full recovery.

He thanks the debilitating disease for one thing, though, and that is making him understand who is really there for support during the difficult times.

The thing I will be so eternally grateful to cancer for is how it has shown me a love, a bond, Michael told Extra. Being in New York City, with people constantly shouting out, 'Go get 'em!' and 'Hang in there!' there's a love and affection and a bond. As well with my family, best friends, close friends that I never imagined would have been so deep. I thank cancer for that."

The 66-year-old, who is married to Welsh beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones, says he was fearful at first of telling those closest to him when hed been diagnosed. And the star admits telling his father, the veteran actor Kirk Douglas, was the hardest of all.

Catherine, the kids and I had an inkling something wasn't right for a long time, at least six or seven months, he explained. But to tell your father, I mean no parent ever wants to hear about their kid's life-threatening illness." (C) Cover Media