Sam Neill Shares Update On Cancer Battle, Says He Is Not Scared Of Death

Earlier in March, the renowned Jurassic Park star Sam Neill unveiled his memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?. Within the pages of the autobiography, Neill courageously opened up about his battle with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, stating that he initially underwent chemotherapy, but unfortunately, the cancer cells didn’t respond to treatment. Subsequently, he embarked on an experimental anti-cancer drug regimen, which has been quite effective.

In a recent interview, the 76-year-old shed light on the driving force that inspired him to embark on the journey of crafting his autobiography. “I didn’t really know how long I had to live, and I thought, uh yeah,” Neill admitted. “I should probably write something down for my children, my grandchildren because I may not be here in a couple of months, and it would be good for them to have a sense of me, you know, and some of the things that I’ve done.”

Sam Neill reveals that his new medication has been very effective

During an interview with ABC’s Australian Story, the actor openly expressed his profound appreciation for introducing the new cancer medication. This therapeutic innovation has undeniably had a profound impact on his life.

RELATED: Sam Neill Explains Why He Didn’t Get Explosive Stardom After ‘Jurassic Park’

Furthermore, he revealed a significant adjustment in his medication regimen; instead of the previous monthly dosing, he now takes the drug biweekly. This decision, though unconventional, proved to be a remarkable turning point in his battle against cancer, and the outcome is truly inspiring because his cancer has been held in remission for an entire year.

He says he is not afraid of death but of retirement

Neill shared a realistic outlook on his healthcare journey. He conveyed a keen awareness that the positive effects of his medical intervention would inevitably wane over time, as emphasized by his doctors. “I’ve also got to be realistic uh, in that in one doctor said to me, ‘this stuff will stop working one day,'” Neill confessed to the news outlet. “So I’m prepared for that. I’m ready for it.”

He also expressed an unwavering determination not to dwell on his mortality and stated that the only thing he is scared of is stopping his work as an actor. “I’m not in any way frightened of dying, that doesn’t worry, it’s never worried me from the beginning but I would be annoyed because there are still things I want to do. Very irritating, dying, but I’m not afraid of it,” the 76-year-old shared. “The idea of retirement fills me with horror, actually to not be able to do the things that you love may be heartbreaking.”