Brave Jim facing more treatment in brain cancer fight
Friday November 27 2009
FOOTBALLER Jim Stynes has begun the latest step in his fight against brain tumours starting a new round of radiation.
The former Australian Rules player and Brownlow medalist was characteristically optimistic about his latest round of treatment, posting a photo of himself and a friend messing around in the radiation room on his Twitter account which he set up to keep friends and supporters up to date on his progress.
"During radiation today, never one 2 lose his sense of humour, thanx mate," the Dubliner posted with a photo.
Despite stepping down from his role as President of the Melbourne football club, temporarily, to fight the illness in early July, Stynes was at Junction Oval to welcome the club's new recruits today after the annual draft which was held last night.
Keen to deflect attention off himself and back onto the players, he only talked about how he was coping with radiation treatment when comparing it to how the young players would deal with beginning the rigors of AFL training.
SETBACK
"A lot of it is intuition," the former Dublin minor said when asked how he was dealing with radiation therapy.
"You've got to get to know your own body ... particularly these boys as they start their pre-season into professional footy."
The former Demon, who played 264 games for the club, announced his latest cancer setback in early October when tests revealed tumours in his brain. He began radiation straight away and during his recent time off from treatment took part in a children's cancer charity function but also spent time holidaying with his wife Sam, sailing on the New South Wales coast.
"Finding time 4 some romance. So peaceful, not often u dont have 2think just drift" he wrote.
Stynes has been optimistic during every stage of his fight against the illness even celebrating his newly shaved head when he began to lose his hair.
Commenting on his latest round of treatment, Stynes expressed the hope that this most recent step in his recovery would be his last.
"At the end of November I have to do one more session which should, please God, finish it off, get rid of the tumours in the brain."
hnews@herald.ie
- Catherine Murphy
