Charlotte Foster
Caring

"A bit grim": Sam Neill shares cancer update

Actor Sam Neill has shared a heartbreaking update on his cancer journey, which he has said he will eventually succumb to. 

Last year, the 76-year-old revealed that he was battling rare blood cancer, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

After undergoing chemotherapy that failed to work, Neill's doctor switched him to an anti-cancer drug which has put him in remission for more than 12 months. 

The treatment requires him to have infusions every two weeks, and while his condition is currently stable, the drug will eventually stop working. 

Speaking candidly to the Herald Sun about his condition, he said while he is maintaining a positive outlook, the gruelling treatment is impacting the way he lives his life. 

“It’s just meant that every second week it was a case of forget about the weekend because that would be a bit grim,” he explained of his treatment schedule. “But other than that, it’s great to be alive and working and in beautiful places, like York.”

Last year, Sam insisted while he wasn’t afraid of death after battling the disease, he “would be annoyed” because he still has plenty he wants to achieve.

“I’m prepared for that,” Neill said at the time, adding that while dying would be “annoying” he’s not “remotely afraid” of it.

“The last thing I want is for people to obsess about the cancer thing because I’m not really interested in cancer," he added. "I’m not really interested in anything other than living.” 

Image credits: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock Editorial 

Tags:
caring, Sam Neill, cancer, treatment