Dolph Lundgren, renowned for his roles in the "Rocky" franchise and "The Expendables", recently disclosed his enduring fight with cancer, shedding light on the disease's reality and his path towards recovery.
In an intimate conversation on "In Depth With Graham Bensinger," the 65-year-old actor revealed that he had been privately battling cancer since 2015. Lundgren's journey began when doctors discovered a tumor in his kidney, initially misinterpreted as acid reflux in 2020. However, his condition worsened, necessitating surgical removal of the additional tumors identified.
While preparing to direct and star in a film, Lundgren received the distressing news from his doctor of yet another tumor, this time in his liver. The actor recalled, "At that point, it started to hit me that this was kind of something serious." The prognosis grew grimmer when Lundgren learned that the tumor's growth rendered it inoperable.
Lundgren's fiancée, Emma Krokdal, reflected on the daunting treatment journey, highlighting the severe side effects it caused. She recalled, "His mouth got really sore. His hands got sore, [his] feet, and he couldn't eat anything warm, anything cold or anything spicy." This resulted in a constant struggle to consume food and subsequent weight loss.
Despite being given a two-to-three-year life expectancy, Lundgren confessed that the doctor's prognosis seemed even more bleak. Yet, he maintained a positive perspective, acknowledging, "I've had a freaking great life. I've lived like five lifetimes in one already with everything I've done."
The actor expressed his concern for his loved ones, particularly his children and fiancée, more than his condition. His daughter, actress Ida Lundgren, recalled the heartrending discussion they had about his possible demise.
However, the tide turned in Lundgren's favor following a second opinion from oncologist Dr. Alexandra Drakaki. She conducted another biopsy, discovering a mutation that rendered the cancer treatable with medication. The new treatment approach resulted in a remarkable 90% reduction in the tumors' size.
Dr. Drakaki shared her optimism regarding Lundgren's recovery, noting, "There's some lesions that we cannot see them anymore. So that is above expectations."
Reflecting on his ongoing recovery, Lundgren expressed a newfound appreciation for life. His journey embodies resilience and hope, demonstrating the importance of perseverance and seeking second opinions in health-related matters.
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