Neighbours icon Ian Smith has shared an encouraging update on his health and treatment following his recent terminal cancer diagnosis.
Smith, best known for his role as Harold Bishop on the soap, has been diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer called pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma.
In an interview just before Christmas, the actor had some "extremely good news" to share, explaining his recent PET scan had shown a shrinking in the size of the tumour.
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"I did a PET scan and the words, I believe, were 'significant metabolic change, significant shrinkage of tumour'," Smith 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?
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"It's not a cure and it won't be a cure, but I certainly have got a year, maybe two," he added. "That's amazing. It really is."
After receiving his diagnosis, Smith contacted Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison to see if he could return as Harold to say goodbye to the cast and fans.
"I asked Jason if I could get Harold to say goodbye and he kindly said yes," Smith explained.
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"I liked Harold. There's not enough of his type in the world. I wouldn't like to live next to him, I've got to be honest, but he's good. He's a nice man."
Herbison also agreed for Anne Charleston, who played Harold's late wife Madge, to return to the soap in a new role.
"That would have been hard for her to do, and she did it so successfully," Smith said. "It was so good."
The scenes with Smith as Harold and Charleston in her new Neighbours role are set to air early next year.
If you would like more information or support about living with cancer or treatment, please click here for guidance from Macmillan Cancer Support, or click here to learn more from Stand Up to Cancer.
Neighbours releases new episodes from Mondays to Thursdays for free on Amazon Freevee and Prime Video in the UK and US. In Australia, the show airs from Mondays to Thursdays at 4pm on Channel 10, with a 6.30pm repeat screening on 10 Peach Comedy.
