KUALA LUMPUR: Hong Kong actor Michael Chan, 81, best known for his role as gangster Camel Lok in Young and Dangerous 3, has sparked fresh concerns about his health after being spotted smoking despite his history of battling lung cancer.
Chan, a prominent actor and martial artist from the 1990s, has faced numerous health challenges in recent years, according to 8days.
In 2020, he suffered a stroke and was diagnosed with lung cancer.
A year later, he received another devastating diagnosis: brain cancer.
Overcoming these health crises came at a hefty cost, with medical expenses reportedly exceeding HK$1 million (RM577,000).
Fortunately, he had the unwavering support of his wife, Ng Kwok Ying, whom he married in 2020 after five decades together.
The couple has three children.
In addition to cancer, Chan underwent hip replacement surgery, leaving him reliant on a walking stick to move around.
Despite these struggles, a recent video of the veteran artiste dining with friends at a restaurant has raised alarm among fans.
He appeared noticeably frailer and was seen smoking, which sparked criticism and worry given his past health battles.
In a candid interview with Hong Kong media, Chan shared his fears about facing cancer.
"I'd be lying if I said I'm not afraid. Everyone fears death. I never expected to have cancer in my brain," he said.
Chan recounted severe symptoms, including frequent dizziness, impaired vision, and numbness on the left side of his body due to a tumor on the right side of his brain.
"Now I'm not as agile, and my body feels weak at times," he admitted.
Chan has appeared in numerous movies since the 1970s, including Broken Oath (1977), Project A Part II (1987), The Mad Monk (1993), Run Papa Run (2008) and Chasing the Dragon (2017).