Legendary sports presenter Sandy Roberts reveals blood cancer diagnosis

Iconic broadcaster Sandy Roberts’ stellar media career spans decades and 1100 footy games but he’s taking on a new role after receiving an incurable cancer diagnosis.

Sandy Roberts is fighting incurable blood cancer. Picture: David Caird

Legendary TV sports presenter Sandy Roberts has revealed he has incurable cancer.

Sandy, who called more than 1100 footy games in a stellar media career, has myeloma.

This has the lowest survival rate of all blood cancers and develops from malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. It causes health issues including a weakened immune system, bone destruction and reduced kidney function.

There is no known cause, or cure.

Sandy, 73, told the Herald Sun he was shocked to learn he had myeloma a year ago. He is sharing his story now to raise awareness and to encourage people to donate to Myeloma Australia’s Tax Appeal.

Roberts with wife Carolyn. Picture: David Caird

The not-for-profit delivers support and resources for the more than 20,000 Australians living with the fatal disease.

Myeloma Australia chief executive officer Mark Henderson said the charity receives no government support and relies on Australian donors.

“It’s sobering to think that 50 people this week will be diagnosed with myeloma and yet most of them, if not all, have never heard of it. We must do better,” he said.

Sandy’s diagnosis followed a fall at his Melbourne home last May.

“I ended up in hospital and was told I didn’t have any broken bones or internal injuries, but that I did have cancer” Sandy said.

Roberts says his diagnosis came as a shock. Picture: David Caird

“Just like that; we had no idea. If I hadn’t fallen, who knows what would have been the outcome.

“It was such a shock. I’d had open heart surgery three months earlier and came out of that feeling good.”

A few days after the fall the normally fit and healthy Sandy still had a niggling pain and visited his GP, who found he had two broken ribs.

MRIs and a PET scan followed and these revealed lesions on the spine, pelvis and sacrum and a broken coccyx (tailbone). A biopsy of a tumour in his pelvis then confirmed his cancer was myeloma.

His wife Carolyn got in touch with Myeloma Australia that day.

“A fantastic nurse there helped us. We didn’t even know what myeloma was,” he said.

In 2019 Sandy announced that he was retiring after 46 years in broadcasting; a career that saw him cover every sport from Summer and Winter Olympics to 19 AFL grand finals, 25 Australian Opens, a swag of Melbourne Cup carnivals and, of course, his beloved golf tournaments.

Roberts has opened up about his cancer battle. Picture: David Caird

He said then he wanted to spend more time with family: sons Ben, 47, and Angus 22, daughter-in-law Jane and three adored granddaughters: Indi, Pip and Kitty.

In February 2022 he started feeling short of breath and lethargic, just not himself.

“I knew something was wrong, I had a feeling it was my heart,” Sandy said.

He was right. Open heart surgery and 12 days in hospital, made more difficult because Covid restrictions meant no visitors. Then the shattering diagnosis of myeloma.

“The day Sandy was told I was on the phone to Myeloma Australia sobbing,” Carolyn said. “What would I have done if they weren’t there? You are completely lost.”

She said the diagnosis had brought the family closer.

“We are speaking up to give other Myeloma patients like me hope,” Sandy said. “And I am asking you to give generously to Myeloma Australia.

“There are trials all around the world. I am asking for help to cure myeloma.”

For details visit: myeloma.org.au/donate

Originally published as Legendary sports presenter Sandy Roberts reveals blood cancer diagnosis