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“If I Can Help One Person, Then I’m Gonna Do It”: Punching Cancer Since 2015, ‘Rocky’ Star Opens Up About Inspiring Fans

Published 05/23/2023, 3:41 PM EDT

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To this day, many fans grapple with the idea that ‘Ivan Drago‘ was way too formidable for ‘Rocky Balboa‘ to be beaten up in his den. Anyhow, in fictional content, the antagonist must lose. But what about real life? Does it follow a laid-out script? Not perhaps. In reality, Dolph Lundgren, the imposing Swedish actor who played the role of ‘Ivan Drago‘ in ‘Rocky IV,’ won a battle: the opponent, this time, cancer.

A few days, while talking to Graham Bensinger on his show, ‘In Depth with Graham Bensinger,’ Lundgren shared that he had been battling cancer for the last eight years. In 2015, physicians discovered a tumor in his kidney. According to the actor, he was under the impression that acid reflux afflicted him. However, there were quite a few tumors. But doctors eventually took them away surgically.

Dolph Lundgren wants to reach out to many more

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Initially, the tumor appeared inoperable. However, a second opinion helped. It became clear that through medicines, the condition was treatable. Reportedly, Ludgren’s tumors shrank by 90% due to the treatment. According to the report on ‘CNN,’ his oncologist Dr. Alexandra Drakaki said, “There are certain parts of his body that the cancer is responding really well. There’s some lesions that we cannot see them anymore.”

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Bensinger asked him how the entire episode affected him. Dolph Lundgren replied, “Well, I think you know you appreciate life a lot more. You appreciate every day. Every day, I can be with people I love.” TMZ met the actor at the airport. The reporter asked, “You were really brave and told your story about your cancer battle. I gotta know how many people are coming up to you saying hey, you’re giving me inspiration..

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Lundgren said that a lot of people approached him. He said, “Well, it feels good. It feels great. Uh, as a matter of fact, uh, my two next projects, both people involved, you know, producers involved and other people and asking for advice. It was cool, you know, it was, uh, really nice. If I can help one person, the reason I did it, I said to myself if I can help one person, then I’m gonna do it, so I’ve always done that so.

The actor again performed his iconic role in ‘Creed II,’ which reached movie theaters in 2018. Reportedly, his friend and co-star Sylvester Stallone was unhappy with him when the latter learned that Lundgren had assented to a movie based on his character – ‘Capt. Ivan Drago.’ Two years ago, he acted and directed the movie ‘Castle Falls,’ whose cast included, among others, his daughter, Ida Lundgren.

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Which is your favorite Rocky movie of all time and why? Do share your views and thoughts with us in the comments below.

Watch This Story: Despite a whopping price tag of $21,300,000, Sylvester Stallone faces a massive blow on his estate – Dubbed ‘the ultimate in equestrian living

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Written by:

Jaideep R Unnithan

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Jaideep Unnithan is a Boxing writer at EssentiallySports. With over 400 articles authored at ES, Jaideep has built a reputation for diving deep into stories and producing detailed reports. Jaideep's passion for the sport of boxing was ignited when his father shared his experience of watching Ali vs Frazier live in the US.
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Edited by:

Arijit Saha