Mannah begins fight against lymphoma
Brad Walter | August 28, 2009
CRONULLA prop Johnny Mannah will begin cancer treatment next week, after the results of a biopsy confirmed he has lymphoma.
Mannah, whose brother Tim will play for Parramatta in tonight's match against Penrith, underwent the tests after Sharks doctor Dave Givney became concerned that a cracked vertebra in his back was not healing. Givney sent Mannah to a leading spinal surgeon for tests that detected a "hot spot" a warning sign for cancer.
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the immune system but 19-year-old Mannah is expected to make a full recovery, as singer Delta Goodrem did when she was diagnosed with the same condition.
In a statement issued by the Sharks, Mannah and his family requested privacy while he undergoes treatment.
"The Sharks can confirm that a biopsy result for Johnny Mannah has come back positive for lymphoma, with Johnny to begin treatment next week," the statement said. "At this stage the club is unable to make further comment or give more detail.
"We would request that the privacy of Johnny and his family is respected while he attempts to deal with this condition and begin his recovery."
Mannah, an Australian schoolboys representative, joined the Sharks this season from Parramatta, where he and 21-year-old Tim played Toyota Cup together last year. The brothers still live together at their family home in Sydney's south-west.
News of Mannah's condition comes as North Queensland and South Sydney prepare to wear special jerseys promoting organisations involved in the fight against cancer this weekend.
The Cowboys, with the support of their major sponsor, Toyota, will carry the Melanoma Institute Australia logo for match against Brisbane at Dairy Farmers Stadium tonight.
Souths' major sponsor, NAB, has also given up the space on the front of the Rabbitohs jersey for a silver ribbon representing Ovarian Cancer Research.
Rabbitohs winger Jamie Simpson has twice beaten cancer after initially being diagnosed with life-threatening non-Hodgkin's lymphoma while a promising schoolboy at Yeppoon's St Brendan's College in 2002.
After undergoing chemotherapy over the following two years, Simpson returned to the playing field and had a stint in the Queensland Cup before being signed by Souths last year. Simpson and teammates Issac Luke and Beau Champion launched the silver ribbon campaign by selling ribbons and pens in Sydney's CBD this week.
