Neighbours legend Ian Smith has provided a health update following his terminal cancer diagnosis (Image: Sam Tabone/Getty Images)
Neighbours icon Ian Smith has said he’s having the “easiest ride” amid his terminal cancer diagnosis despite originally being told he might pass away in March.
The 86-year-old, known for portraying Harold Bishop on the popular Australian soap, announced his departure from the show in December after a diagnosis of “very aggressive non-fixable cancer”.
He continued to express his optimistic outlook: “I am having the easiest ride, seriously!”
Reflecting on his current health status, he noted: “I’ve possibly never felt better. Everyone looks at me and says, ‘Look at your hair!'”
Ian acknowledged that there is astonishment over his luscious curls, particularly after he lost all his hair due to earlier cancer treatments.
Despite this initial setback, his hair began regrowing when he started immunotherapy, which boosts the immune system’s ability to fight cancer cells.
Ian shared his amusement regarding reactions to his hair growth: “They are all jealous I’ve got so much hair.”
Recounting his journey, he explained: “I went through the treatment, started to lose my hair and went totally bald.”
The actor then revealed the unexpected outcome: “I then went onto the immunotherapy and got a head full of hair… not just hair, but curly hair!”
Back in December, Ian told Australia’s Channel 10: “I found out a few months back that I have cancer. That I have a very aggressive non-fixable cancer and they expect me to… they expect me to die…”
Ian expressed his determination to maintain a good quality of life for as long as possible, stating: “I want to stay alive with quality as long as I can. If they can do that, I’m very happy. But I wake up every morning hoping there’s no pain because I know that’s the beginning of the bad part.”
In January, Ian received some positive news amid his cancer battle, after he was thrilled to be told his tumour had shrunk “significantly” and things were more optimistic than he first feared.
In an interview with TV Week, Ian revealed at the time: “I did a PET scan and the words, I believe, were ‘significant metabolic change, significant shrinkage of tumour’.
“I’ve gone from a threat of dying this coming March to maybe a few more months… and now, 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.”
