Dolph Lundgren Credits Second Medical Opinion for Saving His Life Amid Kidney Cancer Battle
The action star reveals a crucial second opinion altered his course of treatment and likely saved his life.
Actor Dolph Lundgren, 68, has shared details of his struggle with kidney cancer, emphasizing the critical role a second medical opinion played in his survival.
Lundgren was initially diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2015 after doctors discovered a tumor. His situation became dire as he received incorrect cancer treatment for several years. The actor recounted to Us Weekly that seeking advice from another medical professional ultimately saved his life.
"Getting a second opinion, that saved my life," Lundgren stated. "I was misdiagnosed and had I not sent all my charts and everything to [the] doctor at UCLA, I wouldn’t have been sitting here right now."
By the time he received a new diagnosis and treatment plan, tumors had spread to his lungs, spine, stomach, and liver, as his initial medications had failed to control the cancer.
Lundgren described the period as a mix of disbelief and relief. "Disbelief first, and then we started the second treatment, the new treatment, [and] it was a relief that it started working quite quickly," he told the publication.
He also reflected on his initial medical experience, admitting he was "a little upset" but ultimately decided against pursuing legal action. "I was still going through treatment, and then I realized that they weren’t doing it out of spite; they just had made a mistake. People make mistakes."
Lundgren, who married personal trainer Emma Krokdal in 2023, credited her with being instrumental in his recovery. "She was there and helped me with the treatments, with my diet because I could only eat certain things. I had sores in my mouth and so forth. She was just fantastic. So without her, it would have been very, very difficult, I think, to pull through."
Though declared cancer-free in November 2024, Lundgren continues to undergo scans every four to five months, remaining vigilant after nearly three years of being in remission.
"Obviously I’m aware of the fact that psychologically that something could come back. And look, it’s just part of life. I can’t change that," he said.
Lundgren gained widespread recognition for his role as Ivan Drago in the 1985 film Rocky IV. He later starred as He-Man in the 1987 film Masters of the Universe.
His documentary, Dolph: Unbreakable, is currently available for streaming on digital platforms.