Beloved Neighbours star Ian Smith reflects on how cancer battle transformed his life and perspective

Beloved Neighbours star Ian Smith has shared an update on his battle with cancer, reflecting on how his diagnosis has changed him.

The beloved actor, 86, disclosed his battle with a rare form of lung cancer in an emotional interview with Network Ten in 2024.

“I found out a few months back that I have cancer, that I have a very aggressive non-fixable cancer and they expect me to die,” Smith said at the time.

“I’ve had three chemos although the first one wasn’t chemo it was immunotherapy, which is reasonably new, to the medical world.

“I’ve really put my hand up I think just to be a guinea pig, plus the fact I don’t want to die, I want to stay alive with quality as long as I can and if they can do that, I’m very happy.

“But I wake up every morning hoping there’s no pain because I know that’s the beginning of the bad part.”

Now, in a recent interview with The Guardian, Smith has opened up about his cancer battle and the impact it has had on him as a person.

“Dying does change how you live,” he told the publication.

“I vainly say I am a better person now, but I think I am more forgiving, more understanding. It is a pity that I couldn’t have come to all these realisations [before] I was sick – I could have done somebody some good in the world.”

Despite the challenges of his illness, Smith reveals that he is doing well and is maintaining a positive attitude.

“Apart from being 86, I feel good. I’m in no pain. I know how strange that sounds,” he said.

“I know I have cancer, because doctors keep telling me I have it.

“I may get very sick again one day. But I have lived the most privileged life.”

In addition to feeling good, Smith recently shared with fans the “amazing” news that his cancer battle is showing positive progress.

“I did a PET scan and the words, I believe, were ‘significant metabolic change, significant shrinkage of tumour’,” he recently told TV Week.

“I’ve gone from a threat of dying this coming March to maybe a few more months… and now, God, who knows? It’s not a cure and it won’t be a cure, but I certainly have got a year, maybe two.

“That’s amazing. It really is.”

Smith first appeared in Neighbours in 1987 as a former love interest of Madge Mitchell, portrayed by Anne Charleston.

Initially, his character was meant to feature in only a few episodes, but he ended up staying until 1991, when Harold was swept out to sea while on holiday. Smith returned to the show in 1996 and remained until 2009.

In addition to his widely recognised role on Neighbours, Smith appeared in the acclaimed series Prisoner in the recurring roles as Head of the Corrections Department, Ted Douglas.