Actor Olivia Williams, known for The Crown, Rushmore, and The Ghost Writer, among other projects, has talked about her journey with cancer and explained why she will not be devoid of cancer ever again. Talking to The Times, the actor reminisced about visiting multiple doctors across four years in a bid to determine the reasons for her health concerns, including aching limbs, extreme diarrhea, and fatigue. She revealed that following misdiagnoses as systemic lupus erythematosus and perimenopause symptoms, a medical professional determined that she has an uncommon cancerous tumor inside her pancreas.
The actor stated that "one operation possibly could have cleared the whole thing" and "I could describe myself as cancer-free, which which I cannot now ever be."
An actor championing donations in favour of Pancreatic Cancer UK, Williams has been through many procedures for tumor removal, but due to its late diagnosis, it spread to her liver, and metastases appear now and then. "We’ve been playing whack-a-mole every time they appear," stated Williams.
The actor got internal radiotherapy for Lutathera treatment over two years. "I go to a room in King’s College hospital and people in hazmat suits come in with a lead box of a radioactive material, which they inject into me and I become radioactive," the actor shared. She also added that the treatment should have meant not having to undergo cancer treatment for two to three years and eliminated metastases.
On the work front, Williams has Monster season 3 alongside Tom Hollander and Laurie Metcalf, among others.
