Sam Neill has provided an update on his battle with cancer, revealing that he is not fearful of death following the unsuccessful outcome of his chemotherapy treatment. The Jurassic Park star disclosed his stage 3 blood cancer diagnosis in March through his memoir, “Did I Ever Tell You This?”
Neill is confronting a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma known as angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. Despite initial attempts with chemotherapy proving ineffective, a novel anti-cancer drug has shown success, placing Neill in remission for the past twelve months. Despite this positive development, he continues to receive infusions every two weeks.
Speaking to Australian Story, as reported by JOE, Neill acknowledged the challenging and disheartening nature of the days following his treatment. Despite being aware of his condition, he expressed disinterest in dwelling on it, stating, “It’s out of my control. If you can’t control it, don’t get into it.”
The actor detailed a ten-day period between treatments where he feels vibrant and alive, relishing the simple joys of existence and the beauty of a blue sky. Although medical professionals have cautioned him about the eventual ineffectiveness of the drugs, Neill asserted his preparedness for that moment.
While acknowledging that the prospect of dying would be inconvenient, especially with more to accomplish in his life, Neill declared he is “not remotely afraid” of death. Contemplating his mortality since the initial diagnosis, he has arrived at a sense of acceptance.
On the topic of retirement, Neill expressed horror at the thought, emphasizing that he still has more to contribute to life. During his chemotherapy, the acclaimed actor temporarily stepped back from his acting career, a hiatus that prompted him to embark on writing his memoir. Reflecting on the uncertainty of his future, he noted, “I better write some of this down because I’m not sure how long I have to live.”
