Collingwood legend Anthony Rocca has opened up on a shock cancer diagnosis.
The 46-year-old former star forward of the game was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and revealed the symptom that raised alarm bells.
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Rocca noted he had been experiencing sharp, stabbing back pain at night which prompted him to take action.
The current Northern Knights coach sought advice from Collingwood doctor Dr Ruben Branson which lead to the shocking discovery.
The 242 game player opened up on the diagnosis in an interview with the Herald Sun and vowed he would beat the condition.
“No one likes the dreaded ‘c’ word, it is even hard for me to say it now,” Rocca said.
“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.
“When I found out, I was like ‘How do we treat it?’ ‘How do we deal with it?’ ‘When can we get started on treatment? And what’s the plan?’”
Rocca is standing down from his role with the Knights as he gets set to undergo six months of chemotherapy with the support of his wife Enza and his children, Mia, 18, and Max, 14.
In good news for the former Pies star, he was told his condition is very treatable.
“I’ve been told it is quite a common lymphoma, it is Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma … it is very treatable,” he said.
“I will hopefully get into chemo in the coming weeks, which will be a six-month situation.
“The statistics tell us that it is very treatable. I’m feeling OK at the moment.”
News of Rocca’s diagnosis left the football community rallying behind the former Collingwood legend.
Fellow Collingwood legend Tony Shaw wrote: “Horrible news about Anthony Roccas diagnosis. What a beautiful man. We are in this fight with u mate. I know the club will have your back and anything I can do to help I’m there. To the extended Rocco family we are only a call away for help.”
Channel 10 presenter Stephen Quartermain wrote: “Crap news. Best of luck Anthony.
You’ll smash it! God speed.”
Journalist Cade Lucas wrote: “Great player, great man, great family. Cancer don’t stand a chance.”
Another user wrote: “We are all behind you Anthony, you’ll beat this legend.”
Rocca’s AFL career spanned 15 years before he hung up the boots following the 2009 season.