Just two years ago, rugby star Todd McManus looked the picture of physical health.
But his rugby journey was tragically cut short after the center fell ill at the age of 23.
McManus was born in Darwin and had a promising future in the sport.
Having excelled as a youth player, he would be scouted by the ACT Brumbies in 2017 and join their development squad.
The center would later join the Queanbeyan Whites and rose through the ranks before helping the club’s first team win a premiership in 2022.
Speaking in an interview with New Testament NewsMcManus stated that the achievement was something that “no one can ever take away from me.”
The center showed off his ripped physique as he posed for a photo online with several of his teammates after winning the premiership.
But while visiting his partner Courtney Tamati’s family in Queensland, things took a turn.
The rugby player was rushed to hospital with severe stomach pains, but after undergoing tests, doctors told McManus he had a stomach virus and there was nothing to worry about.
‘I woke up abruptly with 10/10 abdominal pain. I ended up curled up on the floor moaning in pain. “I was rushed to the hospital to be discharged with ‘severe gastro,'” McManus posted on social media.
Promising rugby player Todd McManus (left) was the picture of fitness several years ago.
McManus (right) was rushed to hospital with abdominal pains, but doctors told him he had “severe gastro.”
A year passed but the avid rugby fan was still experiencing symptoms. He was constantly tired and his love for the sport was beginning to wane. He added that he stopped being interested in many things in life.
“I was referred to a gastroenterologist and had surgery to look good,” he said.
‘I was in the waiting room to be discharged when my surgeon came in and took me to a more private room. ‘He told me that they had found a 2 cm tumor, removed it and sent it for analysis.
“Three stressful weeks later, I sat with my partner Courtney and heard the words, ‘Todd, you have cancer.'”
Life would change quickly for the Darwin native, who subsequently returned home after being diagnosed with cancer.
“Hearing that was another shock to the system, but something I had to face and deal with,” he said. “That’s what this trip was, it was endless bad news.”
He was 23 years old when he began treatment, and the rugby player underwent abdominal surgery a month after his diagnosis.
It was later discovered that he had stage 3 cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes.
“Hearing that was another shock to the system, but something I had to face and deal with,” he said.
“That’s what this trip was, it was endless bad news.”
But at the age of 23 his life took a turn when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Reflecting on his first round of chemotherapy, McManus said he felt like he had “woken up from a coma.”
Recounting the horrific side effects, the 24-year-old said he couldn’t even take a sip of water without feeling like his throat had been cut with ‘razor blades’. He added that the sensation made him cry, and said he felt like he had “razor blades in his eyes.”
“The drugs also left me with constipation and diarrhea, which was just a cruel turn after going through numerous major stomach surgeries,” she said.
But McManus also revealed to the outlet the effect it had on his mental health, stating that he was “too scared to leave the house” and didn’t recognize himself.
“I went from being a pretty confident young man, playing football, always being in the gym and people often complimented me on my figure,” he said.
“Going from that to being too afraid to go to stores, too anxious to go anywhere, was very difficult personally.”
In December 2023, he took to Instagram to thank everyone who supported him during his treatment and posted a photo of himself ringing the doorbell.
‘WE CELEBRATE VICTORIES,’ he wrote on the social media platform. ‘Six rounds of intravenous chemotherapy were completed. I still have to get through this and then 2 more rounds of chemo tablets, but this is definitely a milestone worth celebrating.
‘It’s been almost 6 months since I heard the words ‘you have cancer’. Since then, everything has been almost nothing but bad news and setbacks. I’m finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and today it just got a little brighter.
McManus spoke about the side effects of undergoing chemotherapy, stating that drinking water felt like a razor blade was cutting his throat.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way,” he added, with a “heart emoji.”
His mother and partner supported him throughout his treatment, and Courtney, his partner, moved to Darwin to support him.
“Family was very important for me to get through, and I know how difficult it is to have someone in your life go through this,” she said. “They mean more to me than they will ever understand.”
After six months and six rounds of intravenous chemotherapy, McManus posted an image online ringing the bell in December 2023 on Instagram.
He captioned the image thanking everyone who supported him along the way.
McManus said he couldn’t have done it without the support of his family and posted a photo of his girlfriend and her mother.
Having overcome the disease, McManus now has a new outlook on life and has raised almost $20,000 for bowel cancer research.
Cancer Australia An estimated 9.3 percent of all new cancer diagnoses are related to bowel cancer.
They add that in 2023 more than 15,000 people were diagnosed with the disease.
“I am proud of the man this ordeal has made me,” he said.
McManus, however, says he is determined to return to the rugby field.
‘There’s nothing like playing sports, competing and working hard on the field for your teammates. “I can’t wait until I’m fit enough to go out again.”
Top Blokes Foundation 1300 450 850
Lifeline Australia 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14 (24 hours)
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13THREAD 13 92 76
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