jfid – Michael Turner is no stranger to challenges. As a former captain and wingman of the Geelong Cats, he faced some of the toughest opponents in the AFL during his 179-game career.
But nothing could prepare him for the biggest battle of his life: pancreatic cancer.
Turner, 69, was diagnosed with the deadly disease in January this year, just as he was grieving the loss of his mother.
He was given a grim prognosis of six to 12 months to live, with only a slim chance of survival.
“I was shocked and devastated,” Turner told News Corp. “I had no symptoms, no pain, nothing. I just went for a routine check-up and they found a tumour in my pancreas.”
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and lethal forms of cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10 per cent.
It often has no early warning signs and is usually detected at an advanced stage, when it has spread to other organs.
Turner decided to fight for his life, with the support of his wife Karen, his three children and his seven grandchildren.
He underwent a complex surgery called the Whipple Procedure, which involved removing half of his pancreas, his gall bladder, some of his intestine and two of his veins.
The operation lasted nine hours and was akin to organ transplantation.
“They basically cut you open and re-plumb you back the other way,” Turner explained. “It was very risky and very painful.”
He then endured 12 rounds of chemotherapy, which took a heavy toll on his body and his spirit.
He lost 16kg, suffered from extreme fatigue, digestive issues and altered taste perceptions.
He struggled to eat and drink, and had to rely on a feeding tube for nutrition.
He also had to cope with the emotional stress of facing his own mortality, and preparing for his funeral.
“I have never feared death. What I fear is, and what I lost during that 10 months, is my quality of life,” he said.
He also had to deal with another tragedy, when his wife Karen was involved in a serious car accident that left her with multiple injuries.
She recovered after spending two weeks in hospital, but it added another layer of adversity to their already difficult journey.
Turner said he was lucky to have the support of his family, his friends and the football community, who rallied around him and helped him through his treatment.
He also credited his specialists, Dr. Andrew Haydon and Dr. Mehrdad Nikfarjam, for their expertise and care.
He said he was inspired by the stories of other pancreatic cancer survivors, such as Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek and former AFL coach Neale Daniher3, who have been living with the disease for years.
He also drew strength from his faith, and his love for surfing, which he hoped to resume one day.
After completing his chemotherapy in October, Turner received the best news possible: his blood cancer count, which was initially at 700, had dropped to 25, indicating a significant improvement.
He said he felt “incredibly grateful” and “optimistic” about his future.
“I am getting my life back, getting my lifestyle back. I’m back up to 70kg and I feel really good,” he said.
“I was able to travel to New Zealand to see my son and his partner, and I’m looking forward to celebrating Christmas with my grandchildren.”
He said he was realistic about the possibility of the cancer coming back, but he was determined to enjoy every moment he had left.
“I can’t go through the operation and the chemo again. If it did come back, it would just be radiotherapy,” he said.
“But I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve beaten the odds and I’m still here.”
Turner said he wanted to share his story to raise awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research, and to give hope to other patients and their families.
He said he was proud of his legacy as a Geelong champion, a former captain, a Team of the Century member, and a 25-year boss of the Geelong Falcons.
But he said his greatest achievement was his family, and his greatest reward was his life.
“I’ve had a wonderful life, a wonderful career, a wonderful family. I’ve been blessed,” he said.
“I don’t know how long I’ve got, but I’m going to make the most of it.”
