By
Andrew Stackpool
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FLTLT
Jason Collyer works out at the gym to keep healthy after
defeating cancer twice. He wants to set up a cancer support
network with ADF members to share advice and help one another.
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Photo
by PTE Shannon Joyce
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“TO
SAY I was devastated is an understatement,” recalls Flight Lieutenant
Jason Collyer. “Being 23 and being told you have a potentially
life-threatening illness strips you of every emotion and left
both my wife and me feeling very shell-shocked and empty for a
while.
I remember the doctor telling me everything I needed to do regarding
tests and referrals but in the end I had to get him to write it
all down, as I was there, but not there.
After a good long cry and a few beers we picked ourselves up and
decided we wouldn’t let it rule our lives.” FLTLT Collyer has
survived two bouts of cancer and is keen to set up a support group
for other ADF cancer sufferers or personnel who have beaten the
disease.
“I’m asking other Defence members that have had cancer to contact
me so that we can share advice and support each other,” he says.
“Also, to form a network to help and support any other members
who have recently been diagnosed with cancer or who are diagnosed
in the future.
In particular, I am keen to make contact with any cancer sufferers
who may have deployed on operations.
“This support is absolutely vital to members and their families
as this is a time of great emotional and physical trauma. I found
out during that period who my friends were and having that support
meant a world of difference.”
FLTLT Collyer, from the Australian Joint Intelligence Centre in
Canberra, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in September 2000.
“I had swelling to my neck area and ignored it,” he says.
“Luckily, my doctor didn’t.” He underwent radiotherapy five days
a week for six weeks at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital. The cancer
returned in 2001 and he completed six cycles of chemotherapy by
March 2002.
“Radiotherapy was the pits. I was pretty ill from the treatment.
I lost a lot of weight (20kg) and I was pretty much at rock bottom,”
he says. “I was on leave during both periods of treatment for
about four months each time. The boss, the medical section and
I devised a return to work plan.
I returned part time but within a couple of weeks I was back full
time. “Being so fit before each treatment period helped me to
cope and helped me return to work sooner.
I made sure I looked after myself so that I wouldn’t have any
problems coming back and the return to work plan was the best
thing I could have done.
“I go to the gym and go running and walking to stay fit and we
do unit PT twice a week, so keeping fit and healthy isn’t really
a problem. I keep current on my IR components and will be doing
my PFT and weapons testing soon.”
In September 2000 he was downgraded to medical category MEC 303.
Recently, he was granted a temporary upgrade to MEC 201. He is
determined to obtain permanent MEC 201.
“Nothing in my physical capabilities has changed. I’m the same
person I always was. A lot of people think that if you’ve had
cancer then your body is degenerating or you are a different person
to what you were. Obviously I don’t speak for everyone that has
had cancer, but the big misconception is that you are physically
different to everyone else.
“It’s simply not the case at all. Staying healthy and fit is
part of being a Defence member and I ensure that I do that and,
in terms of carrying out my IR components, don’t expect to be
treated any different because I had cancer.”
FLTLT
Collyer can be contacted by phone on (02) 6127 6038.
