Carlton star Sam Docherty has revealed what really “terrified” him after beating cancer for the second time – and it wasn’t the fear of the deadly disease returning.
The inspirational Blues leader was diagnosed with stage 2 testicular cancer in 2020, and after returning to the field the following year, he was told the cancer had come back.
Heartbreakingly, it had spread to his lymph nodes, lungs and stomach after he was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer, leading to 12 weeks of hospitalization for intensive chemotherapy.
He has always maintained his sunny and inspiring outlook and is one of the most popular players in the Princes Park dressing room.
But Docherty, whose first child with wife Natalie was born in January, revealed he was “terrified” when he left hospital after his long stint on chemotherapy, fearing Covid would strike when his body’s immune system is at its lowest used to be.
Sam Docherty, pictured with wife Natalie, has revealed he was terrified as he left hospital after beating cancer for the second time – but worrying about catching Covid didn’t get diagnosed with cancer again
Docherty has beaten cancer twice in the past three years and returned to the field both times to inspire the football world
The Blues defender has recently met some sick children and knows all too well how scary it is for families when a loved one has to spend a lot of time in hospital.
‘We just came out of Covid years, [and] I was terrified coming out of the hospital and back out into the world knowing my immune system was low and the risk I was at if I came into contact with Covid,” he said on Fox Footy’s AFL360 Tuesday night.
All those families [who have someone in hospital with cancer] have had that anxiety for the past three or four years where they obviously have their child who is having a really hard time but then if they get a chance to go out they also have covid [concerns].
“If an immunocompromised child gets Covid, that could have been the end.”
Aside from that sunny outlook, which has inspired many in the football world – sometimes battling cancer is just damn hard.
Docherty said the hospital always tested the mental strength of those who had to spend extended periods of time in it.
“They are difficult places to be. Anyone who’s been in the hospital, no matter how many times you try to convince yourself that the food is good, the food is rough, you’re staring at the four walls, but you don’t want to leave,” he said.
Docherty and his Blues teammates, who are third on the ladder after an unbeaten start to the season (albeit with a draw included), will take on the Kangaroos for their traditional Good Friday clash.
It coincides with the iconic Good Friday appeal for Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, with both sides visiting sick young people in the run-up, while raising awareness and money for children and their families battling cancer.
Docherty appeared alongside another cancer patient, Kangaroos star Ben Cunnington to bring a smile to a few faces on Monday and said that now that he’s a parent himself, he feels the struggle of families who have children in hospital.
Docherty (right) and Kangaroos star Ben Cunnington pose with a sick child at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital on Monday as both clubs look to raise money and awareness with their annual Good Friday clash
Blues players pose for a photo with a young girl. Docherty said he now finds it difficult to visit sick children as a new father
Docherty and Cunnington both know all too well how difficult it is to fight cancer
“I think going to the Royal Children’s is one of the harder things to do, more from your own personal bias… Now having a child of your own puts an extra layer on it,” he said.
“I went there (on Monday) and there was a little girl there and she had been there for 10 months. She found out she had leukemia on day 10 of her life, so their whole experience with their child has been in the hospital.
“Sometimes it’s not about the child, it’s about the family. It’s about the mom and dad sitting on the chair next to them and watching their kid go through something pretty tough.
“Essentially, you’re putting a smile on their kid’s face, but a living memory that they’ll take home and anywhere that brings joy to their whole family.”
Docherty’s revelations about what scared him most about beating cancer for the second time and leaving the hospital come just days after revealing he recently had to have a benign tumor removed.
Docherty posed with newborn daughter Ruby to urge men to get checked for testicular cancer
The All Australian defender urged men to have themselves checked regularly, because prevention is better than cure.
“April is testicular cancer awareness month,” he wrote on social media with a photo of him and his newborn daughter Ruby.
‘I think it’s important to keep telling my story. Part of my journey includes a routine checkup with my doctors, which includes regular scans and blood tests.
‘In December last year, my routine checkup revealed a benign tumor that had to be surgically removed.
“It’s a timely reminder that if you need to see your doctor or something doesn’t feel right with your health, get checked out.”
Brisbane and Collingwood kick off the fourth round with a thrilling match at the Gabba on Thursday night before the Blues and Kangaroos clash at 4.20pm at Marvel Stadium.