Sam Neill says he's 'grateful' to still be alive as he praises modern medicine amid cancer battle

In an inspiring update on his health battle, Sam Neill has expressed his gratitude for modern medicine's advancements in blood cancer treatments, stating "If this had happened to me 20 years ago, I wouldn't be around."

The venerable actor, now 77, was diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, an uncommon type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had to briefly step away from the spotlight. The beloved star, familiar to millions as the dino expert Alan Grant from the Jurassic Park saga, recently shared on Kate Thornton's White Wine Question Time podcast that he is back to work and relishing life to the fullest.

Elaborating on his current status, Neill mentioned: "I'm in remission and as you see, I'm hard at work and enjoying life immensely." Acknowledging the outstanding progress in treatment options, he told Thornton: "I'm very grateful for not just the wonderful care I've had from doctors and nurses and so on, but also the strides that have been made in treating these things in the last few years."

Reflecting on how times have changed, he added: "If this had happened to me 20 years ago, I wouldn't be around to talk to you." The celebrated New Zealand actor, originally hailing from Northern Ireland, discussed his ongoing treatment routine, noting: "I go in (for treatment) once a month now. But it used to be three times a month and it's down to once a month now."

Explaining the recovery process, he revealed: "You have sort three or four horrible days afterwards, and then all is well and you cheer up and I go to the gym and all that." Neill had previously opened up about noticing swollen glands while promoting Jurassic World Dominion in March 2022.

Throughout his illustrious career, Neill has been recognised with a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the 1980s series Reilly, Ace Of Spies and an Emmy nod for his portrayal of the titular wizard in 1998's Merlin, alongside Fight Club actress Helena Bonham Carter and the late James Earl Jones, known for his iconic Darth Vader voice in Star Wars.

He also showcased his acting prowess in the period drama The Piano, which bagged the best original screenplay award at the Oscars in 1993, and as Major Chester Campbell in the hit BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders, sharing screen space with Cillian Murphy. The full interview can be enjoyed on Kate Thornton's White Wine Question Time, available across all podcast platforms.

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Threads.

READ MORE: Best 2024 beauty advent calendars available to buy from Space NK, ASOS, Boots and more