He Continued to Act Amid Intense Pain: ‘Rocky IV’ Star Dolph Lundgren, 67, Says Eight-Year Cancer Journey Has Been ‘A Rough Ride’, How A Second-Opinion Changed His Life

“If I hadn’t had cancer, I may have done a crazy stunt and killed myself that way, because I was just a little bit too intense before.”

Lundgren’s diagnosis came in 2015, when doctors discovered a tumor in his kidney. After surgery and a biopsy confirmed it was cancer, he continued working in film, even as his health fluctuated. For several years, the disease remained at bay—until symptoms he mistook for acid reflux revealed something far more serious.

“I did an MRI, and the doctors found a few more tumors around that area,” he recalled. “Six tumors were removed, but then another tumor was discovered.”

When surgery was no longer an option, Lundgren began systemic therapy. The side effects were brutal: dramatic weight loss, chronic diarrhea, mouth sores, and persistent pain in his hands and feet. Still, he kept acting—until a London-based doctor urged him to reconsider his priorities.

“I asked him how long you think I have left, and he said, I think he said two to three years,” Lundgren shared on “In Depth with Graham Bensinger.”

“But I could tell in his voice that he thought it was less. I thought it was it. I wasn’t bitter about it, but I felt sorry for my kids, fiancé, and people around me.”

Determined not to give up, Lundgren sought a second opinion. The new doctor offered a different treatment plan—and a renewed sense of hope.

“Within three months, things were shrinking by 20 to 30 percent,” Lundgren said. “When I shared with my family, it was emotional. In 2022, I was watching these medications do their thing, and the tumors shrank by 90 percent.”

By the end of 2024, Lundgren was declared cancer-free. Today, he’s embracing a slower pace, trading high-octane stunts for self-compassion and gratitude.

“I am just a little kinder to myself physically, I think,” he said.

Why Self-Advocacy in Healthcare Can Be Life-Saving

When patients actively advocate for their health, it can lead to earlier diagnoses, broader treatment options, and ultimately better outcomes—especially when initial symptoms are overlooked or dismissed.

Part of this advocacy means not settling for a single medical opinion. Persistence matters: revisiting your doctor, pushing for answers, and seeking additional perspectives from other healthcare providers can be crucial steps in the journey.

WATCH: The value of getting a second opinion

Dr. Steven Rosenberg, Chief of Surgery at the National Cancer Institute, underscored this point in a conversation with SurvivorNet:

“If I had any advice for you following a cancer diagnosis, it would be, first, to seek out multiple opinions as to the best care. Because finding a doctor who is up to date with the latest information is important,” Dr. Rosenberg said.

His words are a powerful reminder that having the right medical team can make all the difference—and that begins with being your own strongest advocate.

Getting another opinion may also help you avoid doctor biases. For example, some surgeons own radiation treatment centers. “So there may be a conflict of interest if you present to a surgeon who is recommending radiation because there is some ownership of that type of facility,” Dr. Jim Hu, director of robotic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center, tells SurvivorNet.

Other reasons to get a second opinion include:

• To see a doctor who has more experience treating your type of cancer
• You have a rare type of cancer
• There are several ways to treat your cancer
• You feel like your doctor isn’t listening to you, or isn’t giving you sound advice
• You have trouble understanding your doctor
• You don’t like the treatment your doctor is recommending, or you’re worried about its possible side effects
• Your insurance company wants you to get another medical opinion
• Your cancer isn’t improving on your current treatment

WATCH: The Importance Of Getting A Second Opinion: Tara Lessard Shares Her Cancer Story.

Tara Lessard is another woman who refused to follow the lead of just one medical opinion. After her 2015 stage 4 ovarian cancer diagnosis, she underwent 21 rounds of chemotherapy and battled severe side effects, including neuropathy that left her temporarily wheelchair-bound.

Unwilling to settle for standardized treatment, Lessard sought multiple opinions—ultimately choosing a cancer center that offered tailored care, including a spleen removal, alternative chemo, and a PARP inhibitor that kept her cancer-free for a year. Despite recurrence in 2018, Tara’s key message was clear: your opinion does matter when it comes to your own cancer treatment. So, get a second opinion if you want one.

Some health insurance companies will cover the cost of a second opinion. Still, it’s a good idea to find out if yours does before you visit a new doctor, as some insurance companies have stipulations on the extent of coverage they will provide.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to stop at a second opinion. Provided that you have the time and financial resources, you may want to consider getting a third or a fourth opinion. Just don’t get so many opinions that your treatment options overwhelm you.

With each new doctor you visit, bring a copy of your:

• Pathology report from your biopsy or surgery
• Surgical report
• Imaging tests
• The treatment plan that your current doctor recommended

Kidney Cancer Symptoms and Treatment

In the early stages, kidney cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms. However, what a patient experiences can differ widely depending on the tumor’s type, size, and location. Below are some potential symptoms and side effects that individuals with kidney cancer might encounter:

• Blood in the urine
• Lower back pain on one side
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Weight loss
• Reduced appetite
• Lumps or growths on the lower back or the side
• High temperature and fever that doesn’t seem to go away
• Anemia: low counts of red blood cells

Surgery is often the primary approach for treating kidney tumors, with the goal of fully removing the cancer. However, this option is typically considered when the tumor is still localized—meaning it’s a manageable size and hasn’t spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. There are several types of surgical procedures used to treat kidney cancer, including:

• Radical nephrectomy
• Partial nephrectomy
• Cytoreductive nephrectomy
• Laparoscopic and robotic surgery
• Mastectomy

Treatment Options for Kidney Cancer: What You Should Know

Kidney cancer can be treated through a range of approaches—each designed to target cancer cells in different ways. Your care team will help determine the best path forward based on your diagnosis, overall health, and personal preferences. Here’s a breakdown of key treatment options:

• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): This minimally invasive procedure uses a needle inserted directly into the tumor. Electric currents and radiofrequency waves heat and destroy the cancerous tissue from within.
• Cryoablation: In this technique, extremely cold probes are placed into the tumor to freeze and kill cancer cells. It’s often used for small tumors or patients who aren’t candidates for surgery.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses powerful medications to stop cancer cells from growing, dividing, or surviving. While kidney cancer is often resistant to traditional chemotherapy, certain drugs may be used in specific cases or in combination with other therapies.
• Radiation Therapy: High-energy particles or waves are used to damage and destroy cancer cells. The two main types are:
• External Beam Radiation: Delivered from outside the body, targeting the tumor with precision.
• Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy): Places radioactive material directly inside or near the tumor.
• Immunotherapy: This innovative approach activates your immune system to better detect and attack cancer cells. Treatments like immune checkpoint inhibitors help the body overcome cancer’s defenses and mount a stronger response.
• Targeted Therapy: These drugs zero in on specific genes or proteins that fuel cancer growth. One notable example is belzutifan (Welireg), approved by the FDA in August 2021 for patients with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-related kidney cancers. Belzutifan blocks a protein called HIF-2α, which normally supplies oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells—cutting off this pathway can shrink tumors significantly.
• Combination Therapy: In many cases, doctors may recommend a blend of treatments—such as immunotherapy paired with targeted therapy—to increase effectiveness and tailor care to your unique needs.

A Note on Side Effects and Shared Decision-Making
While these treatments offer hope, they can also come with side effects that impact your body and daily life. That’s why it’s essential to have open, honest conversations with your doctor. Together, you can weigh the risks and benefits, explore supportive care options, and choose a treatment plan that aligns with your values and goals.

 

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