Dolph Lundgren is known for playing some of the toughest characters ever put on screen, but his new memoir reveals the fight that almost broke him. In“Fights Worth Fighting: Finding Strength in Struggle,”out September 22, the 68-year-old actor opens up about contemplating suicide during his cancer treatment. He was first diagnosed with a kidney tumor in 2015, faced more tumors in 2020, and even discussed a legal assisted suicide plan in Switzerland with his brother Johan if his condition worsened.
The book also reveals that Lundgren received a misdiagnosis early on. His kidney cancer cells carried a mutation typically found in lung cancer, which delayed the right treatment until he connected with Dr. Drakaki. Once he started feeling better, the conversations about ending his life stopped. In November 2024, he announced he was cancer-free, and his wife Emma Krokdal also shares her side of the journey in the memoir.
Lundgren’s story is sparking important conversations about the mental toll of serious illness, how common misdiagnosis can be, and why even the strongest people need support. It’s a rare, honest look behind the action-hero image from someone who spent decades projecting invincibility. Have you ever had a health scare that changed your perspective on everything?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.