“This is a new twist but I’m grateful for it”: Veteran newsreader declines further cancer treatment
Veteran newsreader Brian Henderson has decided not to have surgery after receiving his fifth cancer diagnosis at the age of 88.
The former Nine presenter – who was diagnosed with kidney cancer in September – has told his doctor he would not be having any surgery or radiation or chemotherapy treatment, The Daily Telegraph reported.
“My doctor said the tumour in my kidney is likely to be slow growing so I’ve decided, at my age, to leave it there,” Henderson told the newspaper.
“The doctor said I’m likely to die of something else before this kills me.”
The Gold Logie-winner was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 1999, prostate cancer in 2004, hydrocephalus of the brain in 2013, and throat cancer in 2014.
According to 9Honey, the tumour on his tonsil and half his salivary glands took 30 radiation sessions to remove.
“I’ve had my prostate removed, a piece of bowel taken out and then – the worst of them – throat cancer, a few years back. That was a toughie,” he said.
“I’ve had melanomas, I’ve had it all. This is a new twist but I’m grateful for it.
“Twice in the same place might be bad news but I haven’t had that and am told the cancers are all unrelated.”
Henderson made the decision after consulting with his wife Mardi.
“We weighed up the risk associated with Brian having the kidney tumour removed and thought, as per the doctor’s advice, it was too great,” she said.
“His mind is good, he’s still sharp, he still makes me laugh and we are happy so we’re counting our blessings.”
The television legend, who has spent 47 years on screen with Nine, told 9News the doctor did not provide him with a timeframe.
When asked if he thought about death, he said, “I don’t welcome it, but I’m not afraid of it.”