Action star Dolph Lundgren has opened up about his prolonged battle with cancer and whether his past st**oid use may have played a role in his diagnosis.
The Rocky IV actor, who faced a dire prognosis that gave him just months to live, has revealed candid details in a recent interview about his health crisis and decades of PED use.
Lundgren’s cancer journey began in 2015 when doctors discovered a tumor in his kidney. After removal and a clean biopsy showing it was cancerous, he maintained regular scans.
For five years, everything appeared normal. Then in 2020, while in Sweden, doctors found multiple tumors had returned. “They found that there were a few more tumors around that area,” Lundgren explained. Surgeons removed six tumors, but soon discovered another in his liver.
The situation deteriorated rapidly when the liver tumor grew too large for surgical removal. “It’s grown now, it’s too big, we can’t take it out. It’s like the size of a small lemon,” his surgeon told him. The prescribed systemic therapy caused severe side effects—diarrhea, dramatic weight loss, and painful sores that made eating nearly impossible.
By 2021, while filming in London, a specialist revealed the devastating extent of his condition: tumors in his lungs, stomach, spine, and kidneys. The doctor advised him to “take a break and spend more time with your family.”
When Lundgren asked how long he had left, the doctor estimated two to three years, though Lundgren sensed it was less.
A crucial turning point came when Lundgren sought a second opinion from Dr. Drakaki, who ordered a new biopsy and discovered a mutation typically found in lung cancer. This discovery allowed for off-label treatment targeting the specific mutation.
“Within three months things were shrinking by 20, 30 percent,” Lundgren said. He estimates that without this intervention, he would have had only three to four months left.
Regarding his s**roid use, Lundgren acknowledged taking PEDs throughout much of his career. “I tried steroids back in the 80s, 90s,” he admitted, revealing he used them on and off for approximately ten years, from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s. His usage coincided with his most physically demanding roles, starting with Rocky IV when Sylvester Stallone told him he needed to “put on 10 pounds of muscle.”
While Lundgren’s dosages were moderate compared to professional bodybuilders—around 150 milligrams of testosterone weekly versus the 1,000-1,200 milligrams some bodybuilders use—he has contemplated whether this contributed to his diagnosis.
“It struck me as it could have had something to do with it,” he reflected. “I think maybe testosterone there’s some connection to testosterone therapy and HGH growth hormone therapy and cancer in some people.”
Currently, Lundgren’s prognosis is cautiously optimistic. His tumors have shrunk by approximately 90 percent, with some lesions no longer visible. Doctors are working to remove remaining scar tissue, and he continues taking medication to suppress cancer activity.
The experience has profoundly changed Lundgren’s perspective. “You appreciate life a lot more, you appreciate every day,” he said.
His fiancée Emma has been instrumental in his recovery, supporting him through countless appointments and treatments. Speaking publicly about his battle for the first time, Lundgren hopes his story will help others: “If you can save one person’s life who was in my situation, it’s worth it for sure.”
