Collingwood president Jeff Browne has praised the football club for its support after announcing he is on the mend from ‘incurable’ cancer.
Browne, aged 72, revealed his battle with cancer after Collingwood’s 2023 AFL Grand Final win and vowed to beat the disease.
The club president, also known as football reporter Tom Browne’s father, has been diagnosed with myeloma, a form of blood cancer that originates from plasma cells in the bone marrow.
“It’s currently incurable and it’s a shock to everybody,” Browne said.
He recently broke his silence about his condition and has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy, with two more to go, citing his beloved Collingwood as his source of inspiration.
Now he has delivered the incredible news that his cancer can be cured after all.
“I was told three weeks ago that I’m (in) early remission, so the progress is really positive,” Browne shared. Herald Sun.
‘(It) chose the wrong body to locate itself (in).’
Jeff Browne suffers from myeloma, a form of blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow
Browne (left) told the Magpies players about his diagnosis in keeping with the open and sharing culture created by coach Craig McRae (right)
While myeloma is considered incurable, there are treatments available that often lead to remission, in which the signs and symptoms of the cancer are alleviated.
Despite facing cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, Browne remained steadfast in his role as president during Collingwood’s premiership victory last September.
‘Probably when you get a cancer diagnosis, you think about how to reorganize your life. You get a little tired and stuff,” he said.
‘I remember coming back to Collingwood the first day the boys came back for (pre-season) training and I was standing on the boundary (at club headquarters).
Browne (pictured receiving treatment in hospital) has remained optimistic despite being told his form of cancer is incurable
Browne (pictured with Collingwood stars after a game) said the support of the players at the club had helped provide the platform for his recovery
The boys ran off (the ground) and the Daicos boys, Brayden Maynard, Darcy (Moore) and a couple of other boys came over and gave me a hug on the boundary. I said, ‘It’s better than any medicine they can give me’. I didn’t expect it, it just happened’.
Browne attributed his decision to reveal his battle with cancer to the Collingwood players before the preliminary final against GWS to the culture of openness and acceptance of vulnerabilities fostered by coach Craig McRae.
“The reason I spoke to them before the preliminary final was not to make them feel sorry for me or to make them try harder,” he said.
‘It was us telling each other that kind of thing and it really got me fired up and fired up to go.’
Collingwood supporters will get to celebrate their premiership again tonight when the flag is unfurled at the MCG
Former Magpie Brodie Grundy (left) lines up against his former club after a strong campaign for his new club Sydney against another former club, Melbourne
Collingwood will face the Sydney Swans at the MCG tonight, including former teammate Brodie Grundy, who was impressive in the Swans’ first-round win against the Melbourne Demons.
Grundy will battle against Collingwood, who he left at the end of 2022 for his frustrating season with the Demons.
“Last year, King’s Birthday, he got fired up to play us and he’s just wearing different colors,” McRae said of Grundy.
‘He is an elite player … we always knew that. We have never said that he is not.
‘He’s so important for clearances, he had nine last week.
‘He brings a different dynamic to the Swans and we have Darcy Cameron. He had one of his better games for a long time so it will be a great contest.’