Blues star reveals cancer battle
When Cameron Suafoa first learned he had cancer, he feared it could spell the end of his rugby career. Then, as his situation became clearer, he found playing footy provided a sense of normality required to negotiate a difficult period.
The 26-year-old Blues loose forward spoke to media at Alexandra Park in Auckland yesterday for the first time since it was revealed he has been playing this season through a cancer diagnosis, surgery and subsequent radiation treatment.
It has been nothing short of a remarkable Super Rugby Pacific season for the quietly spoken forward who covers both the loose and second row for the Auckland franchise. He was first diagnosed with the cancer in November last year when he was found to have a high-grade sarcoma of the connective tissue on his back.
He had surgery to remove the malignant tumour soon after, but while he was playing the pre-season with the Blues in Japan he learned he would have to undergo six weeks of radiation treatment (every weekday from February 26 to April 9) as an extra precaution.
What followed almost defied belief. He continued to train, and even appeared in two Super Rugby Pacific matches through his radiation treatment (starting against the Hurricanes in round 3, and then coming off the bench the next week against the Waratahs in Sydney), until fatigue and ongoing fitness challenges finally got the better of him.
Then, after stepping back from active duty for a few weeks to finish his course of radiation and rebuild his fitness, he made a storybook return to the field for the Blues in Friday’s 38-11 victory over the Rebels in Melbourne, improving them to 9-1 for the season.
Team-mate Dalton Papali’i admitted he had been blown away by Suafoa’s resilience and determination and felt he had put even the “tough bastards” of the sport in the shade.
“This shows true courage and toughness to go through what he’s been through,” said the Blues openside flanker ahead of the team’s seventh victory on the bounce.
Suafoa revealed the catalogue of emotions he had been through since first fielding the diagnosis call from his doctor in November, including fears it could end his career, or even worse.
“It was scary ... I didn’t really know how to deal with it, just because it was over the phone and so sudden. There were a lot of emotions and it was definitely a shock,” he said after yesterday’s training session in Auckland.
“Early on, when they told me I would have to have surgery, all of that races through your mind. I didn’t know whether or not I would be able to continue on. Then, post-surgery, the oncologist and surgeon were both saying being able to get back playing rugby was a possibility. That was a huge positive for me.”
Where most would have prioritised recovery, Suafoa ploughed through.
He continued training and playing for much of his radiation treatment, until his body finally told him “enough was enough” and he put things on hold after making a late dash across the Tasman to play off the bench against the Waratahs.
“I think just for a bit of normality,” he explained of his decision to train through. “I just wanted to be treated normal, and I tried to keep it as normal as I could until I started getting a bit tired. It was just my way of dealing with it ... probably not the best way, but how I went about it.
“While I was going through it I didn’t really know what was happening either. That was probably the toughest part.”
Suafoa received a full medical clearance to return and, after playing the final quarter off the pine against the Rebels, was ready for whatever was required – including Saturday’s top-table blockbuster against the Canes at Eden Park.
“Physically I feel good,” he shrugged. “Out on the field it was a bit of a shock to the body. You forget how fast rugby can be.”
The rugged loosie also paid a hearty tribute to partner Britt Hastings-Kutty who yesterday, as she has been throughout, was there by his side helping him through it all.
“She’s been just the best, supporting me in every aspect. She wanted to be there for me as a person, rather than as rugby player.
“We’ve had a few fights around me wanting to go to training. She’s like, ‘nah, you’re staying home’. She’s been that person in my corner, bringing me back down to earth, reminding me it’s OK to not be OK in this situation, and I don’t have to be a super hero and push through.” And Friday’s first hitout back?
“It was exciting. I was just so happy to be back playing again. The thing going through my head was I didn’t want to miss a tackle or make a mistake.”
“It was scary ... I didn’t really know how to deal with it.’’
Cameron Suafoa on receiving his cancer diagnosis