Aussie TV legend Sandy Roberts finally gets some ‘fantastic’ news who kept his horrible cancer a secret for a year
Aussie TV legend Sandy Roberts will be elated after it was confirmed treatment for his rare blood cancer – which can cost patients almost $500,000 – will now be covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Roberts, 75, announced in 2023 that he was suffering from myeloma after keeping the shattering diagnosis a secret for a year.
The man who called more than 1100 AFL games across his storied commentary career was informed he had the incurable cancer after a fall at home in May of 2022.
Roberts said he first knew something was wrong when he became short of breath, and originally thought his heart was the problem.
Subsequent tests showed the cancer in his blood.
The long-standing face of Channel Seven’s AFL coverage retired in 2019 after covering major sporting events including the summer and winter Olympics, Melbourne Cups and the Australian Open tennis.
Aussie TV legend Sandy Roberts (pictured with fellow Seven star Jennifer Keyte)
Roberts, 75, announced in 2023 he was suffering from myeloma – after keeping the shattering diagnosis a secret for a year
Roberts retired in 2019 after covering major sporting events including the summer and winter Olympics, the AFL, Melbourne Cups and the Australian Open tennis (pictured, with fellow TV great Bruce McAvaney)
After confirming his diagnosis, Roberts fronted a campaign to raise awareness about the condition.
‘Almost 30 per cent of sufferers die within 18 months of being diagnosed,’ he said of the disease, which doctors treated using chemotherapy.
Myeloma is a rare blood cancer that develops from plasma cells in the bone marrow.
The abnormal cells then spread throughout the bone marrow, leaving the body struggling to produce normal blood cells.
People who have the disease suffer from a weakened immune system, damaged bones, frequent infections and kidney problems – and it is one of the few cancers that modern medicine cannot eradicate.
But this week’s stunning development will see the drug Daratumumab added to the PBS as a frontline therapy for myeloma patients who cannot undergo a stem cell transplant.
Sold under the name DARZALEX, it is an immunotherapy that attaches itself to the cancerous cells, signalling to the immune system where to attack.
As opposed to previous treatments, which cost around $150,000 in the first year alone, eligible patients will now pay just $31.60 per month – or $7 for concession card holders – and can use it as their first therapy.
Myeloma Australia chief executive Mark Henderson said the announcement will change countless lives across many communities.
‘This is fantastic news for future multiple myeloma patients and their families,’ Roberts told News Corp.
‘This announcement shows us that people are listening.’
