Sam Neill shares sad cancer update after chemotherapy treatment fails

As he battles a rare cancer after chemotherapy treatments failed, Sam Neill says there’s one thing he refuses to do.

Legendary actor Sam Neill says he is committed to leading a busy and fulfilling life despite battling a rare cancer. Picture: ABC

Film icon Sam Neill has delivered a heartbreaking update about his cancer treatment.

The 76-year-old revealed that he was battling rare blood cancer, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, earlier this year.

Speaking to Australian Story Neill said that after chemotherapy failed to work on him his doctor switched him to an anti-cancer drug which has put him in remission for more than 12 months.

But tragically, Neill shared that the drug will stop working eventually.

“I’m prepared for that,” Neill said.

He told the program that while dying would be “annoying” he’s not “remotely afraid” of it.

The Kiwi actor said that in the days after receiving treatment he feels like he’s done “10 rounds with a boxer”, but he continues to work hard on various projects.

Despite his health problems, Neill says retirement is completely out of the question revealing that he still finds joy in being in front of the camera and working with other actors.

Legendary actor Sam Neill, pictured here with son Tim Neill-Harrow, says he is committed to leading a busy and fulfilling life despite battling a rare cancer. Picture: ABC

Neill is currently filming an adaptation of Liana Moriarty’s Apples Never Fall on the Gold Coast and will also appear in series two mini-series The Twelve, filmed in Western Australia.

He says his close friend, Aussie actor Bryan Brown, has been a source of support during his cancer journey.

Speaking with the ABC, Neill says he’s found time to reflect fondly on his glittering career, which has seen him reach heights few have ever reached in Hollywood.

“I can‘t tell you how privileged I am to spend that amount of time with so many actors, so many of whom I’ve really enjoyed and so many of whom I’ve really admired,” he said.

Sam Neill shared his update on Australian Story. Picture: ABC

Neill has also been working on a new book “Did I Ever Tell You This?”, in which he will reveal personal stories and anecdotes from his career.

He says the book is a way for him to leave a piece of himself for his children and grandchildren.

Earlier this year, the seasoned actor told BBC that he hopes his cancer diagnosis doesn’t outshine his memoir.

“The last thing I want is for people to obsess about the cancer thing because I’m not really interested in cancer. I’m not really interested in anything other than living.”

Neill says the days after treatment are challenging, leaving him feeling as if he’d done “10 rounds with a boxer”.

Neill has always been fairly private about his personal life but he was most recently linked to Australian political journalist Laura Tingle. He has two children from previous relationships.

Neill, who was born in the UK, raised in New Zealand and beloved by fans in Australia, is most famous for his role in Jurassic Park and he has graced Australian cinema and television for more than fifty years.

In the 1980s, Neill was rumoured to be one of the frontrunners in line to succeed Roger Moore in the role of James Bond. Ultimately the role went to Timothy Dalton.