Sam Neill announced he’s cancer-free after battling stage 3 blood cancer for five years.
The “Jurassic Park” star, 78, shared the good news in an interview with Australian network 7News that aired Sunday. He said he had been undergoing chemotherapy to keep himself alive — calling it “miserable” — but then the chemotherapy stopped working.
“I was at a loss and it looked like I was on the way out, which wasn’t ideal obviously,” he recalled.
Neill then went on clinical trial for a type of CAR-T therapy, which genetically modified his blood cells. CAR-T therapy is a personalized form of immunotherapy that trains your own immune cells to recognize and destroy cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
“I’ve just had a scan just now and there is no cancer in my body, that’s an extraordinary thing,” Neill shared.
He also said that he wanted to get back to work, noting with a smile, “It’s time I did another movie.”
Neill spoke more about his cutting edge cancer treatment in an Instagram post Monday, while advocating for new cancer therapies.
“We were sailing into uncharted waters. No one knew exactly what we could expect,” he said of his trial. “I think I was first out of the block and i think the term for me was ‘Patient Zero.’”
Neill said he was still processing the “miraculous” turn in his cancer fight.
“But of course it is not a miracle, it is science at its best,” he wrote. “And a lot of people who care deeply about their work and their patients. I am immensely grateful.”
The New Zealand actor admitted he was “uncomfortable” talking about his cancer, but explained that he was posting in the hopes that more groundbreaking treatments will be available to those who need them.
Neill is supporting the Snowdome Foundation, a non-profit that raises funds to support research and clinical trials that will accelerate new treatments and cures for Australian blood cancer patients.
Neill spoke about getting diagnosed with cancer in his 2023 memoir, “Did I Ever Tell You This?.” In his book, he revealed that he first noticed swollen glands while doing press for “Jurassic World Dominion” in March 2022.
He was soon diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
In an interview with “Australian Story” in October 2023, Neill said he was “prepared” for death and wasn’t “remotely afraid” of it.
“I know I’ve got it, but I’m not really interested in it,” he said of his lymphoma.
“It’s out of my control. If you can’t control it, don’t get into it,” he noted.
