Michael Douglas says he is ready to "save the world" after having battled a dark period in his life, which included being diagnosed with throat cancer and separating with his wife, Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. Now that the 69-year-old actor has regained the 32 pounds he lost during chemotherapy and radiation and is working on repairing his marriage with Zeta-Jones, he says he's feeling better than he has in years.

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"I am feeling great. I'm clean as a whistle. I get checked up annually now, but that's it," Douglas tells SFGate in a new interview.

Douglas also opens up about his cancer battle and how he wasn't giving up without a fight. The actor said that while his treatment period was difficult, he never had any thoughts of mortality cross his mind.

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"No question, when the big C sneaks up on you, it is the last thing you anticipate or expect," he added. "You don't really have a choice, do you? It just comes at you, and you try not to feel sorry for yourself and carry on. I didn't have any mortality questions. That would have come if the treatment hadn't worked. But I'm not too philosophical anyway. I am more of a meat-and-potatoes guy."

As far as his marriage to Zeta-Jones, Douglas also admits that while they've had their rough patch, the couple is working on their marital issues with a therapist. The actors announced their separation late last year, but was spotted on the red carpet together in April.

"We did get some marriage counseling," Douglas said. "I think if both parties want to work it out, it makes it a lot easier than if one party is out the door. Things are going great with Catherine and me. The children are doing well both in school and as human beings. I don't know many people my age who have an 11-year-old and a 13-year-old - that certainly keeps you going."

Tags: catherine zeta-jones Michael Douglas