Dolph Lundgren shot to fame as the 6’5’’ former karate champion who took Rocky Balboa to the limit in Russia and saved the fate of Planet Eternia in Masters of The Universe. But having survived his most difficult battle against cancer, Lundgren’s new autobiography was written so that we might be inspired to take the “Fights Worth Fighting” when it comes to prioritizing our own health.
It may surprise some people to learn that Dolph Lundgren is no stereotypical action star. The Swedish born ice hockey standout and formidable martial artist earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering, becoming a Fulbright scholar before entering the world of Hollywood. While Lundgren’s cinematic breakthrough came in 1985’s Rocky IV, playing Soviet boxer Ivan Drago opposite Sylvester Stallone, the actor was also cast as He-Man in 1987’s cult favorite Masters of the Universe movie, and starred alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme in the “Universal Solder” franchise, premiering in 1992, and then returning for sequels in 2009 and 2012. With more than a hundred credits on IMDB, Lundgren has remained one of the busiest actors of the last 30 years, but a shock cancer discovery, a decade ago, would force the action hero to take real life into his hands.
Now embarking on a book tour, and with a new documentary on the way, it’s been an emotional time for Lundgren as he’s been forced to reflect on his life-threatening struggle. “It’s a bit like doing therapy,” the star tells M&F. “You’re going back and re-examining your life. It was good for me, because it was a way for me to appreciate the young man who set out from Sweden on some sort of adventure, pay my respects to him to some degree, and internally, just kind of feel good about myself.”
While Fights Worth Fighting: Finding Strength in Struggle is a highly personal tale for Lundgren, he also felt the need to empower others into backing themselves. “It’s for other people who have their own fights, medically or going through hardships in life.”
How Did Dolph Lundgren Beat His Secret Cancer Battle?
After noticing blood in his urine after a training session in 2015, subsequent tests revealed that Lundgren had a cancerous tumor in his kidney. This was removed by surgery, and Lundgren was told that he’d need regular testing to make sure that the cancer didn’t spread, but those worst fears were realized in 2020, when several more tumors were found in close proximity to the original. While these were also removed, a malignant tumor would later be found in his liver, and due to its significant size, this particular tumor could not be operated on. Instead, Lundgren received an infusion of drugs every three weeks, but cancer nodes continued to grow in his kidney. As if that wasn’t all serious enough, the actor had to deal with blood clots as a side effect of medication. In fact, with cancer continuing to spread, Lundgren was encouraged to spend as much time as possible with his family, with one doctor signaling that his time on Earth was nearing its end.
Rather than give up, however, Lundgren continued to work as much as possible, throwing himself into his movie work, and taking an active approach to his very real fight against cancer. The star’s seeking of an alternative opinion led him to provide tissue samples at UCLA Health, and it was here that Dr. Alexandra Drakaki discovered a mutation associated with lung cancer. This breakthrough meant that a more effective treatment could be designed for Lundgren’s specific situation and incredibly, this led to his tumors being shrunk by around 90%, allowing the remaining cancerous tissues to be removed via ablation, where tumors are destroyed via heat, cold, or lasers.
How Does Dolph Lundgren Stay Fit and Train at 68?
While Lundgren’s new book is full of past personal achievements, like becoming a fourth-dan black belt who became the European champion in 1980 and 1981 or going toe-to-toe with Sylvester Stallone for Rocky IV, the big man is still inspiring the masses at 68-years-young. “I was reluctant to do it at first,” says the star of gaining the confidence to find another doctor who would take a fresh look at his condition. “I ended up being smart enough to just go ahead and get a second opinion. I just had a feeling about it, that it was going help me. I wasn’t sure, but it turned out to be the right decision.”
Following the final procedure on his lung, the actor shared that he was finally cancer free in late 2024, and having made a phenomenal recovery, fans can be reassured to learn that Lundgren’s love of working out remains just as strong as ever. “It’s very important, I think, as you get older, to keep your muscle mass, keep your testosterone level up,” says “The Punisher” star, who still trains three times per week and mixes weights with karate training. “It’s really helped me, especially after the cancer diagnosis. Those treatments were quite tough, so the strength training really helped me.” Lundgren also says that just 30 minutes of sweating it out “away from your computer” can lead to significant results for body and mind.
As a pop-culture icon, Dolph Lundgren’s life and career continues to have a positive impact on those who need someone in their corner. Had he not become Ivan Drago, Lundgren tells M&F that he might have been a karate coach or a chemical engineering teacher in an alternative life. “I think it would have been frustrating for me,” says the legend. “Because I had the creative side of me, and a lot of energy. I think I made the right choice.”
So do we!
For information on Dolph Lundgren’s “Fights Worth Fighting: Finding Strength in Struggle” book and tour, click here.
The “Dolph: Unbreakable” doc will stream from October 6, 2026.
To follow him on Instagram, click here.
