‘I’ve been reborn’: Neighbours star Ian Smith shares miraculous update about battle with terminal cancer

After being told he may only live until March, Neighbours star Ian Smith is rejoicing after some promising signs from his cancer treatment.

Ian Smith of Neighbours has shared promising signs from his cancer battle. Picture: supplied

Neighbours legend Ian Smith says he has been “reborn” and his life expectancy has been extended after his “non-fixable” lung cancer responded well to immunotherapy treatment.

Smith, 86, revealed in early December that he had been diagnosed with a rare and terminal form of lung cancer called pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma and had just months to live.

He underwent chemotherapy and began immunotherapy treatment with the knowledge that the cancer was incurable and he may not live beyond March this year.

However, recent results from his treatment have been positive.

“I did a PET scan and the words, I believe, were ‘significant metabolic change, significant shrinkage of tumour’,” Smith told TV Week a few days before Christmas.

“I’ve gone from a threat of dying this coming March to maybe a few more months … and now, god, who knows?

“It’s not a cure and it won’t be a cure, but I certainly have got a year, maybe two.

“That’s amazing. It really is.”

Neighbours legend Ian Smith says he has been ‘reborn’ and has his life expectancy extended after his ‘non-fixable’ lung cancer responded well to treatment. Picture: Supplied

Smith played Harold Bishop on and off on Neighbours from 1987 to 2024.

The update from his doctor has now given him confidence he will enjoy the rewards from the vegetable garden he planted last month.

“When I planted them (tomatoes), I said, ‘Well, I’ll plant them but I don’t know who’s going to eat them,’ because that’s what I thought,” he said.

“I’m about to eat them next week.

“You know what, I feel like I’ve been reborn.

“It’s rather funny, because there was a time there when I was supposed to die this coming March, and I was just giving things away and I feel like ringing (people) up and saying, ‘Ay! Give it back! I’m going to keep living, if you don’t mind’.

“I feel like I have been reborn.”