A news article I read this evening has left me feeling..just sad. Professor Chris O'Brien, someone many Australians have come to 'know' as a caring, lovely oncologist from RPA, is about to lose his own battle with cancer.
Professor Chris O'Brien 'gravely ill' in hospital
AAP
June 04, 2009 03:07pm
The family of cancer sufferer Professor Chris O'Brien is by the former surgeon's side in hospital after his condition significantly deteriorated.
Prof O'Brien, formerly the face of reality television medical program RPA, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme in 2006.
In April, at a function to announce $100 million in federal funding for his Lifehouse at RPA cancer treatment centre, he said he had suffered a regression.
The former head and neck cancer specialist's obvious deterioration brought Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to the verge of tears.
A statement from Lifehouse at RPA said the surgeon was now nearing the end of his two-and-a-half year battle with the disease, and he was admitted to hospital yesterday.
"Professor Chris O'Brien was last night admitted to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital after suffering a significant deterioration in his condition," Lifehouse said.
"The O'Brien family would like to thank those who have supported Chris and his work with the Sydney Cancer Centre over the past few years.
"They request that his privacy now be respected during this very difficult time."
Building works on the project which will become Prof O'Brien's legacy begins in Camperdown at the end of 2009.
When completed in 2012 it will be Australia's largest cancer care centre.
Mr Rudd paid tribute to Prof O'Brien at April's function in Sydney, saying he considered the former surgeon a "friend" and "inspiration".
"In the two years since I've known Chris, I've come to respect him deeply, to admire him deeply, to love him deeply as a first class human being," Mr Rudd said.
"It is one of the terrible ironies of life that a man like Chris would be diagnosed with the very type of cancer he did so much to fight against with his own patients."
I knew, logically that his chances were not good. I knew enough to know that that type of glioblastoma is one of the more aggressive. But oh, how I wanted him to be ok. How I wanted his to be a success story.
Go in peace, Dr. You've earned it.
It seems he has died. I pray it was peaceful, and his family is ok.
very sad.....may god be with him and his family in these difficult times....i lost my sister-in-law who was a very good friend two yrs back ..she was just 42..she fought a 3 long yrs battle with leukemia and left us after her bonemarrow transplant in ST.LOUIS didnt work....
ReplyDeleteOh I did not know he had deteriorated.
ReplyDeleteI don't find it a "terrible irony" that the Prof has been struck with the same illness as that which he specialised in (was it Rudd who said that?) - I find it quite poignant, actually.
Terribly, terribly sad.
Thank you Melissa for posting this, I have admired Chris on all the RPA shows and always said if I ever needed surgery he would be the man I would want. So I was really upset when we first heard he had cancer himself. He is a man who showed such compassion for all he treated and seemed to be a genuinely beautiful person and family man. I hope his passing when it comes is painless and that his beautiful wife and children keep their memories of him close when he finally leaves us.
ReplyDeleteOh, this hits hard. Not only was he a wonderful, caring man with a loving family, he also was the warrior we latched our hopes on. DH's best mate is suffering from this same cancer, and is treading the same path as Dr Chris. He is under Charlie Teo (the same specialist) and has undergone his second craniotomy. He is 45 years old with 3 children. A bright, wonderful man who had an incredibly senior role as an actuary.
ReplyDeleteThe oncologist has commented on this horrible disease being the bane of the brilliant.
Rest in Peace, Chris. You have touched many hearts. :-(
I was so saddened to hear the news of his death this morning. He was such an inspirational man.
ReplyDeleteNot many things effect me emotionally, but hearing this has just left me feeling so sad. May he rest in peace.
ReplyDeletexxx