Jurassic Park star Sam Neill has shared uplifting news with fans, announcing he is now cancer-free after a challenging health journey. The actor revealed he underwent CAR T-cell therapy as part of a clinical trial after chemotherapy stopped being effective in his battle with stage-three blood cancer.
Neill first publicly disclosed his diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in his 2023 memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?. At the time, he was managing the condition with monthly chemotherapy treatments, telling the Guardian he wasn’t afraid to die, “but it would annoy me.”
Speaking with 7News Australia, Neill explained that when chemotherapy ceased to work, he felt lost and feared the worst. “I was at a loss and it looked like I was on the way out – which wasn’t ideal obviously,” he said.
The actor then participated in a clinical trial focused on his specific type of lymphoma in Australia, receiving CAR T-cell therapy. This innovative treatment trains the patient’s immune cells to identify and destroy cancer cells. The news comes as immunotherapy continues to gain prominence as a potential treatment for various cancers.
“I’ve just had a scan just now and there is no cancer in my body,” Neill revealed. “That’s an extraordinary thing. I’m very, very excited that this can happen.”
Neill had been living with lymphoma for approximately five years prior to the successful treatment. He shared his gratitude for the support he received throughout his ordeal, emphasizing the importance of friends and a positive outlook. The actor’s announcement is likely to raise awareness about CAR T-cell therapy and its potential to offer hope to those battling blood cancers.
