AceShowbiz - Ian Smith, famed for his long-standing role as Harold Bishop on the Australian soap opera "Neighbours", faces a difficult journey ahead as he battles a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer called pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma. At 86, Smith shared his emotional story in an interview with 10 News First, where he opened up about his diagnosis and what it means for his future.

"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 revealed, delivering the heart-wrenching news candidly.

Despite the gravity of his illness, he has already undergone three rounds of both chemotherapy and immunotherapy, describing the latter as a relatively new treatment. "I've really put my hand up to be a guinea pig. Plus the fact I don't want to die and I want to stay alive with quality as long as I can," he said.

Smith first appeared as Harold in 1987, initially supposed to feature for only a handful of episodes. However, his character became a fan favorite, leading to multiple returns to the show, with the most recent comeback announced in May. "After fifteen years of living away, the legendary Harold Bishop is returning to Erinsborough," Neighbours announced on its official X account.

The actor's reflections on his own mortality have been profound and poignant. "We're all dying. But when you find out specifically when you're going to die, you become a very different person," he noted.

Smith spoke about his late wife, Gail, who died of cancer in 2019, acknowledging the deep impact her death had on him. "That, really, I think if that hadn't happened, I'd be a lot worse off now - but my life finished then," he admitted.

Following his diagnosis, Smith has decided to retire from acting altogether, marking a significant end to his illustrious career. His farewell on the "Neighbours" set was emotional, with executive producer Jason Herbison expressing the collective sentiment, "The way the residents of Ramsay Street feel about Harold is how we all feel about Ian - we couldn't love him more than we do."

Ian Smith's enduring legacy as Harold Bishop will forever remain a cherished part of "Neighbours" history. As he faces the challenges ahead, his resilience and love for life continue to inspire both his co-stars and fans alike.