Hollywood actor Dustin Hoffman has revealed that he battled bladder cancer, sharing details of the emotional moment he discovered he had the disease while having breakfast with his wife, Lisa Gottsegen.
The 89-year-old Oscar winner made the revelation during an appearance on the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast, explaining that he initially believed his symptoms were linked to a urinary tract condition.
“I had bladder cancer. I’m not ashamed to say it. And it was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me,” Hoffman said.
The actor explained that he was undergoing medical examinations when his doctor suggested carrying out a scan, despite his initial understanding of what might have been causing his symptoms.
Wife Was Beside Him When He Received the News
Hoffman recalled waiting for his test results with his wife, 72, in the cafeteria at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
He said he immediately sensed that something was wrong when he noticed a woman approaching their table.
Describing the experience as a moment he would never forget, Hoffman said: “It’s breakfast time in the cafeteria at UCLA. And Lisa and I are sitting having breakfast there.
And I see the way she’s walking toward me. This is not a good walk.”
He continued: “She doesn’t look at me. She just looks down and I say, you know, ‘Is it cancer?’ And she just nods her head.”
The actor said he immediately stood up and told his wife he needed to go outside to get some air.
“I literally said to myself, as I was going outside, ‘I’m not a cancer kind of guy,'” he recalled.
Doctor Described the Diagnosis as a Lucky Discovery
Following the diagnosis, Hoffman encountered a cancer specialist outside the hospital building.
The actor recalled asking the specialist what the discovery meant after being told that he had a tumour.
According to Hoffman, the specialist explained that the tumour had not spread to or become connected with anything else, meaning the cancer had been detected at an early stage.
“He says, ‘Well, you know, it means you have a tumour.’
He says, ‘But you’re lucky’,” Hoffman recalled.
He added that the specialist told him he had avoided a potentially more serious situation because the tumour was contained.
Although he was informed that he could wait several days before undergoing surgery, Hoffman said he preferred to have it removed immediately.
“No, no, you can wait for a few days,” he remembered being told.
“How about right now?” he responded.
Actor Recalls Struggling With Catheter After Surgery
Hoffman subsequently underwent surgery to remove the tumour and was fitted with a catheter following the procedure.
However, he admitted that adjusting to the medical device was difficult, particularly when it came to urinating.
The actor explained that he struggled with the idea of urinating while lying in bed and having the urine collected in a bag.
“They put a catheter on me, right when they took the tumour out,” he said.
“I couldn’t lie there and just pee, knowing it was going to [the bag].”
He added that he continued getting out of bed and carrying the device to the bathroom because he wanted to maintain the familiar routine of using the toilet.
“I still got on my feet, picked that thing up, and went to the bathroom and pretended like I was going in the toilet. It meant everything to me,” he recalled.
Cancer Treatment Was Confirmed in 2013
News of Hoffman’s cancer treatment first emerged in August 2013, although the specific type of cancer was not disclosed at the time.
His publicist, Jodi Gottlieb, confirmed that the disease had been detected early and that the actor had successfully undergone surgery.
“It was detected early and he has been surgically cured.
Dustin is feeling great and is in good health,” she said at the time.
Gottlieb also revealed that Hoffman would receive preventative treatment to minimise the chances of the cancer returning.
However, she declined to disclose further information about his diagnosis or the treatment he had received.
Bladder cancer can become life-threatening, particularly when it spreads to other parts of the body.
According to Cancer Research UK, approximately 11,000 people are diagnosed with the disease in the UK annually.
Hoffman Continues Acting Career as He Releases New Memoir
Despite his cancer battle, Hoffman has continued working in the entertainment industry in the years following his treatment.
The actor, known for his performances in films including The Graduate, Tootsie and Rain Man, has maintained his presence in Hollywood.
Hoffman has six children. He shares a daughter and an adopted daughter with his first wife, actress Anne Byrne, and has four children with his second wife, Lisa Gottsegen.
His latest revelation comes as he promotes his new memoir, Look At Me, published this week.
The book reflects on his personal life and his six-decade career in the film industry.
