Sam Neill of Jurassic Park Reveals Fearlessness in Face of Stage-Three Cancer as Chemotherapy Treatment Falls Short
I have no influence over it.
Sam Neill has shared that he faces his battle with cancer with remarkable fortitude, expressing he has no fear of the inevitable.
In his memoir, “Did I Ever Tell You This?”, the 76-year-old Jurassic Park star candidly revealed his struggle with stage-three blood cancer earlier this year. Specifically, he was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Initially, chemotherapy was employed in an attempt to combat the disease. However, after just three months, the treatment reportedly proved ineffective, leading doctors to explore an uncommon anti-cancer medication.
Presently, Neill undergoes infusions every fortnight, a regimen that has proven successful as he has remained in remission for a full year.
In an interview with Australian Story, Neill opened up about the challenging days following his treatments, describing them as “very grim and depressing,” akin to enduring ten rounds with a professional boxer.
While acknowledging the crucial role of his treatments in sustaining his life, Neill maintains a resolute mindset towards the disease, stating, “I know I’ve got it, but I’m not really interested in it.” He further emphasised, “It’s out of my control. If you can’t control it, don’t get into it.”
I suspected Sam Neill would have to clarify.
That article was misconstruing this documentary snippet as if the treatment isn’t working. That’s not the case and he clarifies in this NEW video. https://t.co/ZJn4U2eU1o pic.twitter.com/Gjzh4V3oxi
— 🦖⚡️🏹 Muzzammil (@MuzzShaik07) October 17, 2023
https://t.co/ok346a46Ub pic.twitter.com/mPLkjKJlRE
— 🦖⚡️🏹 Muzzammil (@MuzzShaik07) October 16, 2023
Neill has stated that he cherishes the ten-day window between the conclusion of his treatment’s effects and his subsequent medical appointment, during which he relishes every moment. He expresses, “I could not feel more alive or grateful for the opportunity to breathe and gaze at a clear blue sky.”
His medical team has informed him that the effectiveness of the drug will eventually diminish, yet Neill approaches this prospect with a sense of readiness. While he acknowledges that the idea of passing away would be “inconvenient” due to unfulfilled aspirations, a profound contemplation of mortality post-diagnosis has left him “not at all apprehensive” about the prospect of death.
Retirement, on the other hand, instils in him a deep sense of dread.
During his chemotherapy sessions, Neill had to temporarily halt his acting pursuits. It was during this hiatus that he resolved to document his experiences, recognising the uncertainty surrounding his lifespan.
Neill embarked on the filming of the screen adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s novel, “Apples Never Fall,” but production was halted due to the strike involving actors and writers in the US. Additionally, he is actively engaged in shooting the second season of the mini-series “The Twelve.”
In a subsequent video, Neill reassured, “I casually mentioned that the treatment which has led to my remission will, inevitably, lose its effectiveness one day – well, that’s the natural course… there’s nothing to be alarmed about.”
