Martin Sheen likens Charlie’s addictions to cancer

Veteran actor Martin Sheen has commented on son Charlie’s recent woes involving drugs and partying, saying his son’s plight is akin to a battle with cancer.

The elder Sheen and his other son, Emilio Estevez, spoke candidly about the younger Sheen’s struggles and expressed a desire to support him:

“If he had cancer, how would we treat him?” Sheen asked. “This disease of addiction is a form of cancer. You have to have an equal measure of concern and love and lift them up and so that’s what we do for him.”

He continued:

“You realize we’re not all on the same journey all the time,” said Sheen. “We have to love that much more, we have to be that much more present.”

Estevez, who was with the elder Sheen promoting their new film The Way, discussed becoming accustomed to his brother’s troubles:

“You get used to it,” said Estevez. “You build up an immunity.”

Estevez and his father are working on a memoir entitled Along the Way.