Beloved Neighbours star Ian Smith shares sad update amid cancer battle as he admits friends have 'walked away' from him
Ian Smith has admitted that he has lost friends while battling cancer.
The beloved Neigbours star is being treated for a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer and says that not everyone has stuck by his side.
The 86-year-old says that some people in his life have 'walked away' from him.
'I can't understand that. I don't want them to love me but at least stay as they were with me' he told The Morning Show.
'But, no, they're quite physically walking away from me and it's a very strange feeling. I wish they'd tell me why.'
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Ian added that he is doing well health wise and has so far defied the odds.
'I get a bit nauseous sometimes, but that's not much,' he said of how he's feeling physically.
'I was supposed to die last month… I've possibly never felt better' Ian continued.
'Everyone looks at me and they say, "Look at your hair." And they're all jealous because I've got so much hair.'
In December, Smith was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer called pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma, which doctors initially told him was 'non-fixable'.
Ian, who played Harold Bishop on the long-running soap, stepped down from his stalwart role last year amid his terminal cancer battle.
After being put on a revolutionary treatment plan – which he cheekily described as being a 'guinea pig' for – he's defied expectations and is now hoping for 'a year, maybe two' of extra life.
'I want to go forever,' he said. 'I don't want to play Harold anymore, but I don't want to stop acting.'
The veteran performer first stepped into Harold's shoes in 1987 and went on to become one of Neighbours' most iconic faces.
He was known for his wholesome charm, slow-burning romances, and multiple disappearances - including being presumed dead after falling off a cliff in 1991 – only to return five years later with amnesia.
His final scenes as Harold, which aired in April, had fans across the globe in tears - with the affable character announcing he was moving to Queensland with a sentimental send off.
However Harold made a welcome, albeit brief, return to Ramsay Street in scenes that will aired earlier this year.
Ian was back in the fictional suburb of Erinsborough to help farewell another Neighbours veteran, Anne Charleston, 82.
Anne played Harold's wife Madge Bishop (nee Mitchell) from 1986 until 2001.
She then returned for the 30th anniversary in 2015, and 'final' episode in 2022.
The versatile actress returned to the soap again this year to play new character Agnes Adair.
News of Harold's return came after Ian recently gave an update on his health following his cancer diagnosis.
He revealed on Channel Seven's The Morning Show that he was responding well to his cancer treatment.
'I have got cancer. I know that because doctors tell me I have. But apart from that... No pain. I was supposed to die in March,' Ian said.
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