Bannockburn dad tells of heartbreaking battle
MICHAEL Blackley didn’t realise he was sick until he started coughing up blood.
Even then he never expected to be told he had stage four lung cancer and possibly just months to live.
Aged just 56 and married with three school-aged children, the diagnosis changed Mr Blackley’s life as he knew it.
“I thought — have I done enough for my wife and kids? Have I been a good role model?,” he said.
The Bannockburn dad had always been fit and healthy. He is not sure what caused his cancer but said he had been a chef at the CFA’s Fiskville site, since closed after being found to be the epicentre of a cancer cluster.
“I was coughing up blood. The doctor said ‘It’s not cancer but we’ll get you checked out’,” Mr Blackley said. “I went and got a biopsy and discovered it was lung cancer.”
Describing himself as “one of the lucky ones”, Mr Blackley has a kind of mutation that can be treated with medication and two years after his initial diagnosis he is still able to live a full life.
He is currently on a clinical trial and takes eight tablets each day.
Mr Blackley works three days a week at a local retirement village and stays fit working out in his home gym.
“I go to my oncologist every six weeks. Three months ago they took a look at the MRI and said there were lesions in my brain,” Mr Blackley said. “They said you need to go and plan a family holiday, take some time off with your kids.
“When you get that sort of thing you think it is really bad. But having lung cancer is like a rollercoaster.”
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in Australia, with about 12,000 people diagnosed each year.
According to the Australian Government, the symptoms can be vague and mimic those of other conditions, making it difficult to diagnose.
Mr Blackley’s cancer had spread throughout his body — it is in his lungs, his brain and his bones. He doesn’t know how much longer he has left but is determined to raise awareness of the deadly cancer.
“The other day I saw my son in bed holding his crucifix and I said ‘What are you doing?’ And he said he was saying a prayer for me,” Mr Blackley said. “At first you didn’t know how much to tell the kids, but they know they know Dad has cancer.”
Despite his uncertain future, Mr Blackley is trying to stay positive.
“You don’t have to be doom and gloom. It’s a matter of fact of living to the fullest and making life special.”
November is lung cancer awareness month.
“You don’t have to be doom and gloom. It’s a matter of fact of living to the fullest and making life special.” MICHAEL BLACKLEY