Author(s): Chris O'Brien

Biographies & Memoirs

How a grim diagnosis transformed the life of one of Australia's top cancer specialists. It was a cruel twist of fate: in November 2006 Chris O'Brien, one of the country's leading head and neck cancer surgeons, was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive and almost inevitably lethal form of brain cancer. As he knew, few sufferers survive past 12 months. Nevertheless, he was determined to beat the odds. With the support of his close family, O'Brien took the option of radical brain surgery under the supervision of his friend, neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo. As told here in this warm and lively memoir, he faced the terrible toll of cancer and its treatment with an uncommon grace. In June 2009, after living with cancer for two and a half years, Chris O'Brien passed away. To the end he was optimistic and generous, relaying his energies into fundraising for an integrated cancer centre, Lifehouse, at Royal Prince Alfred hospital. Honoured as an Officer in the Order of Australia, he was described by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as 'a truly exceptional Australian'.