"I feel good, relieved," he told the US Today show.
"The tumour is gone. But, you know, I have to check out on a monthly basis now to maintain."
The 66-year-old said he's feeling optimistic after undergoing radiation and chemotherapy to treat the tumour on the base of his tongue.
"I think the odds are with the tumour gone," he said, "and what I know about this particular type of cancer [is] that I've got it beat."
Michael plans to keep an eye on his health and "take a couple of months of getting checked out. But it's been a wild six-month ride."
He told the TV show his appetite is back and he is slowly gaining back the weight he lost - but the most significant change in him came after feeling the support from his family during his illness.
"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," he said.
"And it gave me a really new appreciation of just how valuable, how precious good friends are and family.
"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."
