Professor Chris O'Brien admits he is 'nearing final episode'

AS surgeon Chris O'Brien shuffled to to the stage supported by a walking stick, those who had come to toast him rose to their feet.

AS surgeon Chris O'Brien shuffled to to the stage supported by a walking stick, those who had come to toast him rose to their feet.

The head and neck surgeon, who was given six months to live in 2006, was not well. Fatigue was now "unrelenting and profound''.

His left hand and arm were paralysed.

The surgeon, the face of the popular Channel Nine television show RPA before he was diagnosed with the very type of cancer he treated in others, feared his life was nearing its end.

Among the doctors, politicians and other supporters of his Lifehouse Cancer Treatment Facility, the condition of Professor O'Brien would not have come as a surprise to his close friend, prime minister Kevin Rudd.

The close bond the two men formed since Professor O'Brien first approached the then opposition leader to lobby his support for a new, integrated and holistic cancer treatment centre for the RPA, was on clear display.

In Sydney today, Mr Rudd announced an additional $100 million in funding for the Lifehouse Cancer Treatment Centre. Despite acknowledging Professor O'Brien's reluctance for the spotlight, Mr Rudd could not resist offering a few words about the man.

The prime minister struggled for composure as he spoke about the close friendship that has formed between the two men during Professor O'Brien illness.

"In the two years since I've known Chris, I've come to respect him deeply, to admire him deeply, to love him deeply as a first class human being,'' Mr Rudd said.

"It is one of the terrible ironies of life that a man like Chris would be diagnosed with the very type of cancer he did so much to fight against with his own patients.

"But Chris has made much good of it.

"This bloke is an inspiration, an example to the next generation of health professionals.''

After being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in 2006, Professor O'Brien, Australia's foremost head and neck surgeon, stepped down from his post as director of the Sydney Cancer Centre. Since then, he has devoted himself to the task of establishing a not-for-profit, cutting-edge multidisciplinary cancer treatment centre, Lifehouse.

Professor O'Brien said that his health was declining and his left arm and hand were now paralysed. Although doctors had believed that his chemotherapy was successfully battling the tumour, a recent scan revealed that the paralysis was due to a regression of his disease.

"In the past six weeks I've (suffered) unrelenting and profound fatigue,'' Professor O'Brien said.

"I believe I'm approaching the final episode of this journey.''

In a video message sent from England, Professor O'Brien's friend, former talkshow host Michael Parkinson said wanted to share several good bottle of red wine with the professor when he was next in Sydney. "Stop them from going sour,'' Parkinson said.

"Chris, I think you're going to be around for a lot longer than any of us around you,'' he said.

Work on the first stage of the new $300m treatment centre, which will also act as a research institute in collaboration with the University of Sydney, will begin at the end of this year, but the project needs an $50m. Contributions from private donors are being sought.

The treatment centre is due to be completed in 2012.