Swedish actor, filmmaker, and martial artist Dolph Lundgren has recently revealed that he has been fighting cancer for the past eight years. Lundgren, who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s with his roles in action movies, disclosed the news during a visit to the In Depth With Graham Bensinger show.
According to the Rocky IV star, he was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 after doctors found a tumor in his kidney during a routine checkup in Los Angeles. While the tumor was removed, a biopsy revealed that it was cancerous, and Lundgren has been fighting the disease ever since.
Lundgren Shares Experience of Battling Cancer
For Dolph Lundgren, the past eight years have been a difficult journey as he battled cancer and went through various treatments to keep the disease at bay. Speaking to Graham Bensinger on his show, Lundgren shared his experience and the challenges he faced during this time.
The action star explained how doctors discovered a tumor in his kidney during a routine checkup in 2015. While they were able to remove the tumor, a biopsy revealed that it was cancerous, and Lundgren has been living with the disease ever since.
“They found a tumor. They didn’t know what it was – just a tumor in my kidney. And they took it out here in LA in 2015 but then they did a biopsy and it was cancerous,” Lundgren said.
Despite the difficulties, Lundgren sought different treatments and persevered through the challenges, leading to near-full recovery. The experience has left him with a renewed appreciation for life and a desire to share his story with others.
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Dolph Lundgren Recounts His Struggle with Cancer and the Road to Recovery
Swedish actor and martial artist Dolph Lundgren opened up about his eight-year battle with cancer in an interview with the In Depth With Graham Bensinger show. Lundgren, best known for his role in Rocky IV, revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, after doctors found a tumor in his kidney. While the tumor was successfully removed, a biopsy revealed it was cancerous, leading to a years-long fight against the disease.
Despite undergoing several treatments and scans every six months to monitor his health, the cancer returned in 2020. Lundgren underwent surgery to remove the tumors and documented his recovery in a video clip recorded a day after the procedure. In the interview, Lundgren spoke about the impact his lifestyle choices may have had on his health, and urged others to take care of themselves both mentally and physically.
“It’s the day after my surgery. They took out one tumor, then they took out another two they found and another three small ones. Hopefully it’s cleaned out. If it dies, it dies!”
Even after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in 2015, Lundgren remained vigilant and got regular scans every six months. Unfortunately, in 2020, he discovered that the cancer had returned and required another surgery to remove the tumors.
Despite the setbacks, Lundgren never lost hope and kept his fighting spirit alive, as evidenced by his famous line from Rocky IV: “if it dies, it dies.” His resolve to keep fighting and stay positive has been an inspiration to many, and he continues to pave the way to recovery.
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Dolph Lundgren was not only battling tumors in his kidneys, but also a large tumor in his liver, which had grown to the size of a lemon. Unfortunately, the doctors informed him that they could not remove it.
“If they can’t take it out, that means you have to do systemic therapy. But then I started to get side effects, I got diarrhea and I lost a lot of weight.”
Dolph Lundgren’s fight against cancer intensifies after doctors give him a maximum of two to three years to live
After the initial surgery to remove the tumor from his kidney, Dolph Lundgren was informed by doctors that he had a maximum of two to three years to live due to the presence of a lemon-sized tumor in his liver. However, he refused to give up hope and sought a second opinion from Santa Monica-based oncologist Dr. Alexandra Drakaki. Under her guidance, Lundgren underwent another round of biopsy which uncovered the mutation responsible for his illness. This led to a new course of treatment involving medication to aid his healing.
“So 2022 is watching these medications do their thing and finally, the thing had shrunk by 90 percent. Now I am in the process of taking out the remaining scar tissue of these tumors,” Lundgren revealed.
He added:
“The prognosis is that hopefully when they take these out, there’s no cancer activity and the medication I am taking is going to suppress everything else.”
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Dolph Lundgren Reflects on Possible Causes of Cancer
Actor and martial artist Dolph Lundgren is unsure about what caused his cancer. In the 1980s and 1990s, he had an intermittent relationship with steroids, depending on the physical requirements of his roles.
“I tried steroids back in the 1980s, 1990s… I don’t know if it has anything to do with cancer. Of course it struck me it could have had something to do with it.”
Dolph Lundgren believes that ignoring one’s health could be a factor contributing to cancer. While he does not attribute steroids as a direct cause, he suggests there may be a link between steroid use and the disease. Lundgren had sporadically used steroids during the 1980s and 1990s to achieve the physique required for his roles but is uncertain if it played a role in his cancer diagnosis.
“Maybe it’s just me but you kind of blame yourself to some degree for it. I think maybe, there is some connection between testosterone therapy, HGH therapy and cancer in some people.”
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Dolph Lundgren is currently on the path to full recovery. Although cancer is a serious health issue, Lundgren has found a silver lining in the cloud. The experience has taught him to value life more than ever before. In his own words, the Rocky IV star says:
“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.”
As Dolph Lundgren’s battle with cancer seems to be nearing its end, Fitness Volt extends its well wishes to the actor for a healthy and happy life ahead. For those who wish to learn more about Lundgren’s journey, interview clips detailing his battle with cancer can be found on Graham Bensinger’s YouTube channel.
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Overview
Swedish actor, filmmaker, and martial artist Dolph Lundgren has publicly shared his eight-year battle with cancer. Lundgren, best known for his role in the movie “Rocky IV,” disclosed during an interview on “In Depth With Graham Bensinger” that he was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 after doctors found a tumor in his kidney. Although the tumor was successfully removed, a biopsy revealed it was cancerous, leading to a years-long fight against the disease. Despite undergoing several treatments and scans every six months to monitor his health, the cancer returned in 2020. Lundgren underwent surgery to remove the tumors and documented his recovery in a video clip recorded a day after the procedure. In the interview, Lundgren spoke about the impact his lifestyle choices may have had on his health, urging others to prioritize both their mental and physical well-being.
Featured Image @ DolphLundgren (Instagram)
