Michael Douglas - Michael Douglas' Sporting Break

Michael Douglas claims he was diagnosed with cancer at the best possible time.

The 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' actor - who is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment after doctors found a tumour at the base of his tongue - insists he is happy to be at home while battling the disease because he can watch sport on TV.

He said: "I don't have anything to do thank goodness. You couldn't pick a better time. Tennis has never been better. College football just started - so the sport looks really good."

Michael - who has two children, Dylan, 10 and Carys, seven, with wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, as well as son Cameron, 31, from a previous marriage - has been boosted by the support of his family, though his famous father Kirk Douglas has taken an unusual approach to helping him beat the disease.

The 93-year-old actor explained: "I tell a lot of dirty jokes. I try to make it fun."

Catherine, 40, also spoke of the family's approach to tackling her 65-year-old spouse's condition, insisting they are all remaining positive.

She said: "What's the use of me crying around the house? All I have to do is get the kids to the ocean, get them out to the park, get them doing stuff that any mother does who is facing the same thing. Do you look at the dark side? No. I think anybody dealing with this has a positive side."

Michael's doctors are said to be "cautiously optimistic" about his recovery and he said recently he has an 80 per cent chance of survival.