Six-time Port Adelaide premiership defender Roger Delaney on road to recovery after cancer surgery

Six-time Port Adelaide premiership defender Roger Delaney is recovering well after having surgery to remove a cancerous prostate.

Six-time Port Adelaide SANFL premiership player Roger Delaney is recovering after prostate cancer surgery. Picture: Megan Slade

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SIX-time Port Adelaide premiership defender Roger Delaney is recovering well after having surgery to remove a cancerous prostate.

Delaney, who has been living on the Sunshine Coast for the past nine years, was diagnosed in January after a routine blood test and had surgery three weeks ago.

The 53-year-old said the operation was a success but doctors found the cancer, originally diagnosed as high-grade, to be more aggressive than once thought.

He said doctors were still unsure if he would require chemotherapy or radiation but that looked unlikely at this stage.

“The operation was a success, recovery is going pretty good and the doctor tells me I am going well,” the 208-game former Magpie and one-game AFL player said.

Roger Delaney (left) and Nathan Buckley celebrate after Port Adelaide won the 1992 SANFL grand final. Picture: Nicholas Wilson

“I got what they call ‘clear margins’ (clear of any cancer cells).

“But it ended up being a lot longer than the normal three-hour operation because the cancer was actually more aggressive than they thought.

“Right now as it stands … there isn’t any need for chemo or anything like that, but given that it was so aggressive, maybe down the track.”

Prior to the surgery, Delaney told The Advertiser many of his Port Adelaide friends had reached out via phone calls, text messages and surprise visits.

Last week Delaney returned to work part-time at his business, Q Advertising, began driving.

But he was still suffering from fatigue – a main side-effect of the surgery.

Roger Delaney, pictured with wife, Jacqui, daughter Yasmine, who was eight at the time, and then nine-week-old twins Jada and Cooper, in 2006. Picture: News Corp

“I went for a small walk with my wife (Jacqui) and by the end of it, I sort of felt light headed and very tired and out of breath.

“That’s something that I’m not used to but again I’m only three weeks out from surgery.”

Delaney said Jacqui, a former Australian and Adelaide Thunderbirds netballer, and children Jessica, 33, Yasmine, 21, Jada and Cooper, both 13, were all helping him remain positive.

“I had my mum and dad come up (to Queensland) from Adelaide as well.

“The first week I was home, Jacqui stayed home with me and mum was fantastic – she did all the kids’ school sports and all that sort of stuff.”

George Fiacchi (left) with Roger Delaney after Port Adelaide beat Glenelg in the 1992 SANFL grand final. Picture: News Corp

Delaney, who played one AFL game with Fitzroy in 1990 and won SANFL flags in 1988, ‘89, 1992, ‘94 and 1995-96, urged men in their mid-to-late 40s to go for regular check-ups.

He said early detection was the key to his survival.

“The doctor basically said they were very lucky they did (the surgery) then.

“That’s how close it was and if it had been another six months, it would’ve been very, very dangerous.

“I just continue to say ‘go and have a test’.

“If your doctor says you’re too young and you’re 45 or 48 or whatever, go to another doctor.”

Delaney has a check-up with his specialist in two weeks and hopes to get the all clear to go on a trip to the US next month.