AFL legend Anthony Rocca reveals shock cancer diagnosis
- Anthony Rocca diagnose with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- A strange, throbbing back pain set off alarm bells
- READ MORE: Jurassic Park star's 'grim' cancer battle
AFL legend Anthony Rocca has opened up about his recent cancer diagnosis and the one symptom that set off alarm bells.
The former Collingwood player, 46, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma two weeks ago.
Rocca revealed he'd been suffering a sharp pain in his back that had been waking him up at night for several weeks.
When he eventually saw Collingwood's doctor, Dr Ruben Branson, he was put through a series of tests which uncovered the 'dreaded' diagnosis.
'No one likes to be told you have got that sort of illness, but I am the sort of person who deals with what is front of me... I'll beat this,' Rocca told the Sunday Herald Sun.
'No one likes the dreaded 'c' word, it is even hard for me to say it now.'
Rocca, who now coaches the Northern Knights in the Coates Talent League - the top under 18s Aussie rules competition in Victoria - said he immediately tried to get on top of his treatment.
In the coming weeks he will begin six months of chemotherapy with the support of his wife Enza and his children, Mia, 18, and Max, 14.
Former Collingwood player-turned-Northern Knights coach Anthony Rocca, 46, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma two weeks ago
In the coming weeks he will begin a six-month chemotherapy treatment with the support of his wife Enza and his children – Mia, 18, and Max, 14 (pictured together)
Rocca said he will take the coming season off and has already handed his coaching duties to Monty Stuart for the time being.
Rocca started noticing a 'strange, stabbing pain' in his back six to eight weeks ago.
'Something in the back of my mind was telling me it was quite different to what I had experienced in the past... It wasn't affecting me during the day but I would wake up in the middle of the night,' he said.
At the time Rocca was still training at the gym and doing boxing sessions.
He put up with the pain for about three of four weeks before seeing a doctor.
He then underwent a series of ultrasounds, CT scans and PET scans before he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - a disease where cancer cells form in the lymph system, which is part of the immune system.
In some positive news, the footy legend has been told his cancer is very treatable.
Rocca said that he went to the doctors for a checkup after a 'strange, stabbing' back pain kept waking him up in the middle of the night for weeks on end
Rocca is pictured with his wife Enza in 2009. She has been by his side as they navigate his cancer diagnosis
Over his 15-year-career Rocca played 242 AFL games and kicked 415 goals with Collingwood and Sydney across 15 seasons.
This year he will be celebrating his 20th anniversary of marriage with Enza, who he said has been 'so strong and supportive' since the diagnosis.
The father-of-two is hoping his diagnosis will encourage others to get checked if they notice anything unusual symptoms.
