Jurassic Park star Sam Neill has revealed that he has stage-three blood cancer.
The 75-year-old actor opened up about the diagnosis with the Guardian ahead of the release of his memoir Did I Ever Tell you This?.
In the first chapter of his book, he writes: "The thing is, I’m crook. Possibly dying. I may have to speed this up."
While speaking with the newspaper, Neill - who famous played Grant in the hit 1993 film - said he started writing his memoir as a way to keep busy.
"I found myself with with nothing to do," he explained.
"And I’m used to working. I love working. I love going to work. I love being with people every day and enjoying human company and friendship and all these things.
"And suddenly I was deprived of that. And I thought, 'What am I going to do?'
"I never had any intention to write a book. But as I went on and kept writing, I realised it was actually sort of giving me a reason to live and I would go to bed thinking, 'I’ll write about that tomorrow... that will entertain me.'
"And, so, it was a lifesaver really, because I couldn’t have gone through that with nothing to do, you know?"
Neill initially went to the doctors during the press run for Jurassic World Dominion in March last year after discovering he had swollen glands.
Shortly after the checkup, the actor was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, an aggressive lymphoma that affects blood cells called T-cells.
Although he underwent chemotherapy, when this didn't work he started on a new chemo drug, which has had a far better impact on his condition.
Neill will have to keep taking the drug monthly for the rest of his life - but it means he is now cancer-free.
"I can’t pretend that the last year hasn’t had its dark moments," he continued.
"But those dark moments throw the light into sharp relief, you know, and have made me grateful for every day and immensely grateful for all my friends.
"[I'm] Just pleased to be alive."
As for Did I Ever Tell you This?, the book is set to drop on 21 March and is described as a 'fascinating and remarkably honest memoir'.
Neill told the outlet that it's not a cancer diary, but that his illness is somewhat of a 'spiral thread' throughout.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week
Featured Image Credit: Moviestore Collection Ltd / Everett Collection Inc / Alamy Stock PhotoTopics: News, Cancer, Health, Jurassic Park, TV and Film
Daisy Phillipson