Dolph Lundgren Considered Suicide, Planned Funeral Amid Cancer Battle, Memoir Reveals

Dolph Lundgren, known for his role as Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV," has revealed the profound personal toll of his cancer battle in his new memoir, "Fights Worth Fighting: Finding Strength in Struggle." The 68-year-old actor shared that during his nearly decade-long fight with the disease, he contemplated suicide and meticulously planned his own funeral.

Lundgren was first diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his kidney in 2015. After successful surgery, he remained cancer-free for five years before discovering in 2020 that the cancer had returned and spread to his liver, lungs, and spine. This recurrence led to difficult internal dialogues and conversations with loved ones.

"I had a lot of difficult conversations with myself," Lundgren told Fox News Digital. "I definitely had a few tough ones. Of course, as most older men do, you do estate planning. You plan your will and who's going to get what. But in this case, it was around the corner. It was something I had to plan a little more in detail, like funerals and trying to figure out where I would be, what would be better for my family. Planning your own funeral is kind of a saying, but I literally was doing that. That was tough."

At one point, Lundgren admitted to considering ending his life, stating, "At some point, which was even harder, I started thinking, 'Do I really want to be in bed weighing 60 pounds and having people come and see me like that? Or should I just end it myself?'" He discussed this possibility with his brother, making a pact that he would assist if Lundgren made that decision. The actor also explored the concept of medical aid in dying, noting that countries in Europe permit it for the terminally ill, though he would have still required assistance.

Lundgren's memoir also addresses his past use of anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing drugs between 1986 and 1996. While he stressed that there is no conclusive evidence linking these substances to his cancer, he acknowledged they "might have helped cause" it, expressing a caution to others about their potential risks. "I wanted to express a caution to people, to other young men, who may decide to try it, that it's not without risk," he said. He also reflected on forgiving himself for past choices, attributing them to being younger and under pressure from the film industry.

Despite the grim prognosis and his personal struggles, Lundgren found strength in his discipline, his physical fitness, and the unwavering support of his wife and daughters. A second opinion from Dr. Alexandra Drakaki at UCLA Health proved pivotal. She identified that Lundgren's diagnosed kidney cancer had a mutation more common in lung cancer, meaning the treatments he had been receiving were ineffective.

This misdiagnosis led to a new treatment approach, and by November 2024, Lundgren announced he was cancer-free. He shared that his close friend, Sylvester Stallone, was one of the first to reach out after his diagnosis, leading to a deepening of their long-standing relationship.

Lundgren hopes his memoir will offer inspiration to others facing adversity. "I think that's great. That makes me feel good. I now hope to offer a little inspiration to others. I know I have so much more I want to do," he stated.