Michael Douglas, right, speaks during an interview with Matt Lauer, co-host of the NBC 'Today' show on Monday, Jan. 10, 2011 , in New York. The interview will air on Tuesday. CAPTIONBy Peter Kramer, APMichael Douglas says he feels "good" and "relieved."

In his first TV interview since undergoing throat cancer treatment, the actor tells Matt Lauer -- in an discussion that took place Monday and airs Tuesday on the Today show and on Dateline NBC on Jan. 23 -- that it's been "a wild six-month ride."

He tells Lauer: "I feel good, relieved. The tumor is gone. But, you know, I have to check out on a monthly basis now to maintain. I guess there's not a total euphoria. I'll probably take a couple of months of getting checked out. But it's been a wild six-month ride."

When pressed about some of the side effects, Douglas explains: "Salivary ducts have been closed down as a result of the radiation, probably for at least a year or two. So your mouth is very dry-- particularly affects you at night-- for sleeping. Still have the cheek factor, which will progressively go away. But that's about it."

Keeping food down is not a problem, although it was, says Douglas. "I'm eating like a pig," he says, laughing. "I'm still-- I lost about 32 pounds. And I've put about 12 back. But, I mean, I got another 20, 25 to go."

He's working out and can eat anything he wants, he says. "They want to keep the cardio down because they want me to put some more weight on. I lost a lot of muscle mass, so I'm going to work on that. I'm going to get my fingers ready for Liberace, you know…"

He's not afraid to look ahead to getting back to work. "Yeah, oh, absolutely. I think the odds are with the tumor gone and what I know about this particular type of cancer that I've got it beat."

The life-threatening ordeal was a reality check, Douglas says, which brought "new depth" to his relationships. "So all of a sudden the affection from my family, from my friends, and from my fans hit me at a much deeper level than I would have ever imagined before. And it gave me a really new appreciation of just how valuable, how precious good friends are, and family. And it's not that I disregard them before, but there's a much deeper feeling. And I've talked to other cancer survivors about this, that-- that happens, that you just really, really appreciate what's important in life."

He adds, "We've had a big celebration these last couple of days when I found out the tumor was gone.'

Lauer told Douglas that some photos showed him not looking so good during the chemo. "I was gaunt, you know?" Even his father, Kirk Douglas, 94, was concerned.

Through it all, the paparazzi never let him alone. "They're there every day," says Douglas. "I guess curiosity's gotten them a lot of coverage-- sort of following it. And there's so many outlets now these days. I mean, I just feel for all these young kids. I mean, the generations now, with the amount of paparazzi that they have and these video cameras-- you know, you just can't do anything."