Renowned Swedish actor, filmmaker, and martial artist Dolph Lundgren, who gained fame in the 1980s and 1990s for his roles in action movies, has recently revealed that he has been battling cancer for the past eight years. Lundgren, who was known for his Viking-like personality, made the shocking revelation during an interview with the In Depth With Graham Bensinger show. He revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, and since then, he has undergone several treatments to keep the disease in check. Lundgren shared a detailed account of his battle with cancer, which he fought with immense courage and determination.
The Rocky IV star had a tumor in his kidney, which was removed in 2015, but a biopsy revealed that it was cancerous. The next few years were the toughest of Lundgren’s life as he had to deal with cancer and the constant fear of losing his life. However, he sought different treatments, fought through the disease, and paved the way to near full recovery. Lundgren continued to do scans every six months to track his health after the initial battle, but the cancer had grown back in 2020. He underwent surgery to remove the tumors, and in a video clip recorded a day after the surgery, Lundgren said that they had taken out one tumor, two more they found, and three small ones. He never lost hope and kept the fighting spirit alive, as evidenced by his famous dialogue from Rocky IV, “If it dies, it dies!”
Apart from the tumors in the kidneys, Lundgren had developed a “lemon-sized” tumor in his liver, which the doctors said they could not remove. They gave him a maximum of two to three years to live, but Lundgren sought a second opinion and additional treatment to curb the decline. Under the guidance of Santa Monica-based oncologist Dr. Alexandra Drakaki, Lundgren went through another round of biopsy, which helped uncover the mutation that allowed him to heal through medication. He revealed that the medication had shrunk the tumor by 90 percent, and he was in the process of taking out the remaining scar tissue of the tumors. Lundgren believes that neglecting health could be one of the reasons why people get cancer.
Lundgren is not sure what led his body to get cancer, but he had an on-and-off relationship with steroids in the 1980s and 1990s, depending on the kind of physique his roles demanded. He feels that there could be a correlation between steroid use and cancer, although he does not blame steroids for causing it. Lundgren is on his way to full recovery, and he appreciates life more now than ever before. He said, “You know, you appreciate life a lot more. You appreciate every day. Every day I can be with people I love. You just appreciate being lucky enough to be alive and appreciate every moment there is.”
Dolph Lundgren’s secret battle with cancer is nearing its end, and his story is an inspiration to people who are going through similar struggles. His courage, determination, and fighting spirit have helped him overcome the disease, and he is now on his way to full recovery. Lundgren’s story is a reminder that life is precious, and we should appreciate every moment we have. Fitness Volt wishes Dolph Lundgren a healthy and happy life.
You can watch the interview clips of Dolph Lundgren detailing his battle with cancer here, courtesy of Graham Bensinger’s YouTube channel.
