McAvaney gives dignified nod to his cancer, then gets on with the races

AS the well-wishes pour in for legendary sports broadcaster Bruce McAvaney following the revelation he has cancer, he assures viewers ‘I’m going well’.

McAvaney is battling leukaemia.

AS the well-wishes poured in for legendary Australian broadcaster Bruce McAvaney following news the 63-year-old has cancer, it was business as usual for him today as he resumed doing what he loves best: hosting live sport, assuring viewers he’s “revitalised, rejuvenated and I feel well”.

Following The Herald Sun revealing McAvaney is suffering from leukaemia, after being diagnosed with the illness more than two years ago, McAvaney was delivering on his plan to live “a complete life with no restrictions”.

He opened Channel Seven’s racing coverage of Golden Slipper day first with sport, and then with a genuine thanks and dignified explanation of his illness.

Co-host Francesca Cumani said viewers were “longing to know how you are”, and McAvaney delivered.

“I’m going well. I have appreciated all the support I’ve had over the last 24 hours,” he said.

“Two years ago I discovered I have a form of leukaemia, CLL. I have no symptoms and I’ve had no treatment.

Bruce McAvaney thanks well-wishers as he opens Golden Slipper coverage today. Source: Channel 7

“If I have to have the treatment the success rate is particularly strong. I’m very lucky.

“It’s a nasty word leukaemia, a lot of people are fighting it. I feel for them.”

In a small way I’ve been in their shoes for the last two-and-a-half years.”

He said he had made the decision not to host Australian Open tennis coverage in January because ‘I felt I was getting tired’.

“My immune system, I feel is not as strong as it once was,” he said, but now “I’m revitalised, rejuvenated and I feel well.”

WATCH: McAvaney opens up on his battle with cancer... https://t.co/LG7zgTQwSv #GoldenSlipper pic.twitter.com/VkPT1pYU6f

— 7Sport (@7Sport) March 18, 2017

Cumani commented that he looks well, and his energy ‘is overflowing as always’.

McAvaney thanked her, then seamlessly turned to the racing coverage saying “I’m looking forward to today, as we all do”.

McAvaney will head the Seven’s 2017 AFL coverage. He also plans to work through until at least the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

He told the Herald Sun despite the fact the cancer could “jump out of the ground at any moment ... I don’t expect it will. But I’m living a complete life with no restrictions.”

McAvaney had been managing to balance his work life with his health issues, but 2016 presented a challenge even he couldn’t ignore.

“It had been building for a little while. But last year was a bit of the straw that broke the camel’s back,” he said.

Plenty voiced their respect for McAvaney on social media.

All the best to the doyen Bruce McAvaney and his family

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) March 17, 2017

GEEZ!! Bruce McAvaney battling leukaemia!!! Fight the good fight legend!!

— Tim Verrall (@timverrall) March 17, 2017

Wishing Bruce McAvaney all the very best with his health battle. Not only a great broadcasters, but, a lovely guy and terrific role model.

— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) March 17, 2017

Best wishes to Bruce McAvaney and his family. Gun broadcaster but an even better bloke.

— Julian de Stoop (@JDESTOOP80_FOX) March 17, 2017

Saddened to hear the news of Bruce McAvaney's battle with cancer, one of the best callers to grace the mike #howgoodiscyril

— riley.knight (@RileytKnight) March 17, 2017

Thoughts and best wishes are with the great Bruce McAvaney.

— Joel Selwood (@joelselwood14) March 17, 2017

The revered Australian icon last month revealed even though he’s been behind the microphone for years, he still finds the job incredibly nerve-racking, especially when calling Melbourne Cups.

“It’s so nerve-racking,” McAvaney said. “There are few things that really scare me in my job but the four Melbourne Cups I did, honestly it was such a relief to get through them.

“It is a difficult thing to do, not only emotionally but technically as well.

“It’s nearly the most difficult thing in all sports broadcasting, because you can call so well for 11-and-a-half months of the year but if you get one wrong it’s the Cup and you’re no good, so the pressure’s enormous.

“We went to bigger binoculars at the time I was calling, and to hold them tight on your stand when you’re getting excited is a hard thing to do and you start to shake a little. Then you’re looking at horses making a run three and four deep and you’re trying not to blur them.

“I believe it’s the most difficult thing in sports broadcasting in this country.”