Brave Knight Jeremy Papamau thanks Lance Armstrong or inspiration
BY JOSH LEESON ANDRUPERT GUINNESS
20 Jan, 2009 03:00 AM
WHEN promising Knights winger Jeremy Papamau was experiencing some of his darkest moments in his battle against testicular cancer he watched the Tour de France.Not because the 18-year-old was a big cycling fan, but because he found inspiration in knowing Lance Armstrong won the torturous 3500-kilometre event a record seven times after his own battle with the disease.
Yesterday, Papamau had the opportunity to thank Armstrong, via video link from Homebush, for inspiring him to keep fighting.
"I would like to thank you on behalf of everyone cancer survivors worldwide for the inspiration and dedication you have given us," Papamau told Armstrong, who was at the Royal Adelaide Hospital for the launch of his foundation's LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign.
"Lord knows, I wouldn't have been able to do what I did without your assistance, and knowing that someone else has done it."
Papamau also revealed to Armstrong the hardest moments of his chemotherapy treatment. A time his immune system was dangerously low and he had to be isolated from his family to avoid a risk of infection.
"They had to stand outside a glass window and say g'day to me through a glass window," he said.
"That was hard, but it is just about climbing back on the bike, as you say.
"For you that is a physical and literal thing, but for a lot of us it is a big metaphorical thing about getting back on and really striving for our dreams."
After Papamau finished speaking Armstrong applauded the Novocastrian and congratulated him on his willpower.
"That takes a lot of courage to get up there and share that story," Armstrong said.
"Hats off for having the courage to show up and share your story with all of us."
Papamau was diagnosed with testicular cancer last June and had one testicle surgically removed before beginning an intense six-week course of chemotherapy in July, which almost killed him twice.
Armstrong began his own battle with the disease in 1996 before it spread to his abdomen, lungs and brain.
Cancer nearly claimed his life before he fought back to win his first of seven straight Tours de France titles in 1999.
Papamau told the Herald yesterday Armstrong was his hero.
"I knew about him, knew of him, knew what he'd done but I didn't realise the scale of [his battles with cancer] until I was sort of dying as well," Papamau said.
"At the time the Tour de France was on and I watched a couple of the stages and realised what a massive achievement it was to win it, not once, but seven times, and everyone knows his story and his battles with cancer and after that he was even bigger."
The former Australian Schoolboy and 2007 Carlson Club-Andrew Johns Medallist made his return to the Knights youth training paddock in November but pulled up lame after only two sessions.
Tests revealed he had compartment syndrome, which meant another trip to the surgeon's table on December 12.
He underwent a fasciotomy, which involves cutting the calf open and then resealing the skin, but not the compartment, to allow the muscle more room to grow.
Finally over the Christmas and New Year's break Papamau had some good news with blood tests for cancer returning clear and normal.
Last week Papamau resumed training, and although progression is slow and he is unlikely to play before round two or three, he has his sights set on an NRL debut in 2009.
"That's absolutely the goal for the year and I'll be giving it a fair crack, that's for sure," he said.
Inspired by Armstrong's amazing charity work, Papamau's other goal for 2009 and ultimately the most important is to create greater testicular cancer awareness among young men.
"It's actually the most common cancer you can get for young men, and you just don't think it could happen to you," he said.
"When you find out you've got it, or it could potentially be a problem, it's mind-blowing there's no other way to describe it."
http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...trong-or-inspiration/1410962.aspx?storypage=0
