Jarryd Roughead will win his cancer fight thanks to new wonder drugs, says Ron Walker
CANCER survivor Ron Walker says new wonder drugs available to treat sufferers will help Jarryd Roughead win his cancer battle.
Hawthorn
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CANCER survivor Ron Walker says new wonder drugs available to treat sufferers will help Jarryd Roughead win his battle against a recurring melanoma.
Walker has offered his help to Roughead after discussing the Hawthorn star’s plight with ex-Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett.
The businessman and former Melbourne Lord mayor was told he would die from a melanoma that spread from his face to his lungs and brain.
He was saved through new advances in immunotherapy, with the expensive drug Keytruda defeating his late-stage melanoma after doctors had told him he would die.
Medical experts said it was likely that drug would be part of Roughead’s treatment program.
Walker told the Herald Sun Roughead would win his fight given cutting-edge medical advances.
“I am totally cancer-free. It is all to do with the persistence of (the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre’s) Grant McArthur and the doctors who looked after me,’’ he said.
“I was termed a dead man walking and this drug clearly saved my life.
“It is a lot to do with making sure you keep your spirits up and don’t dilute your confidence in the future.
“I would tell (Roughead) just to keep the confidence in himself and seek the best medical advice and be patient.
“30 years ago I wouldn’t have survived this. Only in the last 24 months Keytruda has been successful throughout the world so they are using the Australian experience as a masthead for the future.”
Walker said he would be happy to give Roughead advice about the path ahead.
“I would be happy to talk to him,’’ said Walker.
“I have already spoken to Jeff this morning and anything I can do to help, I would be very happy to help.
“I am determined to pass on my good luck to other people and that’s exactly what I have been able to do because a lot of people couldn’t afford it.”
Fans plan to stand and applaud Roughead at the second-minute mark of the second quarter in Friday night’s game against Sydney.
Roughead, who wears no. 2, plans to be around the club as much as possible during his recovery.
Hawthorn vice-captain Jordan Lewis says the team is determined to try to still thrive despite the huge setback.
“It’ll be hard,” Lewis said.
“But as harsh as it is, you’ve just got to move on in a way. I think Roughy would want that. What has happened, has happened and we’ve just got to beat it.”
Walker said as red-headed, fair-skinned men both he and Roughead were particularly susceptible to melanomas.
Roughead met with his oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Centre on Wednesday as specialists assess the damage to his internal organ.
A plan will almost immediately be set into action which could involve radiotherapy and immunotherapy.
Through Walker’s lobbying Keytruda is now available on Australia’s pharmaceutical benefits scheme for melanomas and is a potential course of action for Roughead.
Walker’s saga started in late 2012 with a small melanoma on his forehead appeared, with subsequent melanomas diagnosed in his brain and lungs.
He was told to get his effects into order and prepare for the end, before exploring cutting-edge immunotherapy drugs including Keytruda and Yervoy.
He has now been cancer free for seven months and continues to lobby for a full PBS listing for Keytruda, only subsidised for use with melanomas.