Huxley uses Armstrong as motivation
Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:04
Wallaby Julian Huxley says he is inspired by champion Tour de France cyclist Lance Armstrong to try to play rugby again after recent brain surgery to remove a tumour.
The 28-year-old Brumbies fullback had his life turned upside down when scans taken after he went into convulsions on the field early in a Super 14 match last month led to the discovery of a tumour.
Huxley underwent a six-hour operation and is now facing a long course of radiation therapy, but he hasn't ruled out a return to the playing field.
"A decision on whether I play rugby again is a long way off, but people like Lance Armstrong have shown what is possible if you believe," Huxley told The Australian newspaper.
American Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times in succession from 1999-2005 after overcoming testicular cancer.
"I'd love to play again the game I love, but time will tell whether that's a stupid call," Huxley said.
"The surgeons have told me it [a comeback] would be a bit risky, but then surgeons always err on the side of caution," he added.
Although Huxley said his operation went well, he is not yet out of the woods.
The biopsy revealed that while most of the tumour was benign, some cells were dividing and Huxley will be subjected to six weeks of radiotherapy in the hope of arresting the spread of cancer.
"It's not too bad a prognosis," he said.
"Now I've got to do the radiation and see what comes of it.
"Basically, there's no real way of telling if it's been a success.
"If I'm still here in 10 years, it's been successful."
Last month, Huxley said he was resigned to never playing again, telling a newspaper it was a "bitterly disappointing" realisation but that he was lucky to have had the career he has enjoyed so far.
