Former Footy Show star and 2GB host Darryl ‘Big Marn’ Brohman has revealed he is battling cancer.
The beloved rugby league personality confirmed he has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma during an interview with 2GB host Mark Levy on Thursday morning.
The footy legend has revealed his prognosis is positive, but he’ll still need to undergo chemotherapy treatment.
‘I have been a bit crook for the last six weeks or so and I have been diagnosed with a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,’ he told Levy.
‘It’s a form of cancer and I have started treatment today. I start chemo on Monday, and there’s about a 21-day period between the chemos and there are about six or seven that I’ve got to do.
‘It’s not great news but if there is any good news from a cancer perspective it’s probably on the lower scale, and everyone I speak to says it is very treatable – so I’m pretty positive that I’ll be all right which is good news.
Darryl Brohman has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Brohman’s wife Beverly has taken time off work to help him as he battles cancer again
Brohman is a popular figure at 2GB and has been working for the Continuous Call Team for many years
He revealed the symptom that led to the diagnosis.
‘I was a bit crook in the stomach and I just felt a bit heavy and I just went and got tested. I have probably been tested about seven or eight times,’ he said.
‘They had to form an accurate opinion of what it was.
He said his wife had taken some time off work to support him through the diagnosis.
‘My daughter got married last Friday so it came at a bad time, but it was a fantastic wedding,’ he said.
‘She’s (wife) a different woman in the last few days, she’s very loving.’
Brohman is planning to take a career break for the next few months, before returning to 2GB for the footy season next year.
He isn’t a stranger to major health scares, and was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010.
At the time he opened up about his cancer fight, urging other men to have routine check-ups for the life-threatening illness.
Brohman with daughter Ruby
Brohman played State of Origin for Queensland and 114 first grade games
He underwent surgery and made a full recovery and he’s determined to beat the disease again.
‘I’m very positive that I’ll be all right, just a matter of going through all the yucky stuff you’ve got to go through. Chemo doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, but… I’m just gonna lay low for a few months, do what I’ve got to do, and hopefully come out completely healthy,’ he said.
Brohman has been a fierce advocate for cancer survivors himself, and is an ambassador for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which helps kids battling the disease.
‘Bulldogsfans’ Instagram page posted a picture of Brohman when the news of his diagnosis came out, saying: ‘We wish him a full and speedy recovery’.
‘Stay strong Darryl you can beat this. My prayers are with you,’ one fan said.
‘Hang in there, Big Marn,’ another said.
He played 114 first grade games, including stints at Penrith and Canterbury, and featured in two State of Origin games for Queensland.
In his Queensland debut during the opening match of the 1983 State of Origin series at Lang Park, Brohman suffered a broken jaw after a vicious elbow tackle from Les Boyd, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
At the time, Brohman had been widely tipped to make his Test debut in the series against New Zealand, which was due to start just three days later.