‘Jurassic Park’ star Sam Neill ‘glad to be alive’ after stage 3 battle with blood cancer

Sam Neill has opened up about his health, revealing in a recent interview that he has been diagnosed with blood cancer.

The “Jurassic Park” star said the Guardian in a report published Friday about the “dark moments” of the last year, when he found out about his cancer.

“Those dark moments cast the light in strong relief, you know, and have made me feel grateful for each day and immensely grateful for all my friends. Just glad to be alive,” he said.

According to The Guardian, Neill, 75, experienced swollen glands while promoting 2022’s “Jurassic World: Dominion.” The actor’s doctor diagnosed him with stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphomasoon after he noticed the swelling.

According to the American Cancer SocietyNon-Hodgkin lymphoma is Stage 3 when disease is present in lymph nodes on both sides (above and below) of the diaphragm, or in lymph nodes above the diaphragm and in the spleen.

Neill reportedly received chemotherapy and was started on a new chemo drug when the first treatment began to fail. The Guardian reported that Neill, now cancer-free, will take the drug every month “for the rest of his life.”

The actor, who has appeared in the television series “Peaky Blinders” and “The Sullivans,” also spoke to the outlet about his next book, “Did I ever tell you this?”

“I never intended to write a book. But as I kept going and writing, I realized that he was actually giving me a reason to live and I would go to bed thinking, ‘I’ll write about it tomorrow… that will entertain me,’” she said. “And it really was a lifesaver, because I couldn’t have gone through that with nothing to do, you know.”

Readers, however, should not consider “Did I ever tell you this?” from Neill. as a “cancer book”.

“I can’t stand them,” he said. “I’m never going to read another bloody cancer book in my life.”

Instead, the actor sees his illness as a “spiral thread” that runs throughout the book.

Earlier in the Guardian story, Neill said he “couldn’t care less” about dying, but wants “another decade or two” to enjoy life and the home he has.

“We have built all these beautiful terraces, we have these olive trees and cypress trees, and I want to be around to see it mature,” he said. “And I have my adorable little grandchildren. I want to see them grow.”