Cancer survivor Ben Cunnington has opened up on the “overwhelming” feeling he had when first diagnosed with testicular cancer as he prepares to play his first AFL game in 13 months this weekend.
Cunnington survived two bouts of cancer that kept him out of the AFL since he last played in round 19, 2021 and revealed things got “pretty real” for the 30-year-old and his family when a check-up last November revealed the recurrence .
Ahead of his return against the Adelaide Crows on Saturday, Cunnington, a two-time North best and fairest, spoke about his battle and the support from his family and the club that helped him fight his way back.
“The first diagnosis was very overwhelming,” he said.
“You never think you are going to be that person. You see and hear and read about it, but when it’s you, it’s very overwhelming.
“We had the operation and we thought that everything went well so you moved on.
“But when it came back in one of my check-ups and then the chemo got involved, that’s when it got pretty real. It was a bit of a battle, yeah.”
A reluctant giver of interviews, Cunnington’s comments were published on the North Melbourne website, where he outlined his battle to get back to senior football, which included a calf issue and then a bout of Covid on the eve of his return and a fear he may not get back.
“I had a couple of little setbacks during the rehab, but when I did that calf pretty good, we thought we might be in a little bit of trouble,” he said.
“But the club were great, they sent me back to the farm for a couple of days to regroup, then I got back on the horse, recovered well.
“It was all looking pretty good, then I came back again and got struck down with Covid, which has been a long time coming. It was always going to happen the week leading up to my first game.
“But finally we’ve got to where we are now.
“It feels amazing. I can’t stop smiling, especially where I have come from.
“You do a little bit of reflecting, but to finally get here, it’s been a bit of hard work and some ups and downs, but to finally get here, I can’t stop smiling.”
Cunnington, who played his first game in the VFL last weekend before getting the nod to return to the AFL team on Wednesday, said his happiness was reflected in that of his family and friends when he told them he’d get back to doing what he You see it.
“It hasn’t just been me on the journey, I’ve had a lot, especially family, close friends and even people within the footy club coming on this journey with me,” he said.
“To tell them, and see their happiness, relief, excitement, it was a nice feeling all around.”
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