Army faces the enemy within (Australia)

BRENDAN NICHOLSON DEFENCE CORRESPONDENTAugust 31, 2009

SINCE 2002, the Australian Army has lost nearly twice as many of its men to cancer as have been killed fighting in Afghanistan.

Eleven have died in action and more than 20 have been killed by several types of cancer.

It's a sobering comparison from the Chief of Army, Ken Gillespie, who revealed yesterday that he had just emerged from a battle with prostate cancer.

''In Afghanistan we realise that there's an enemy there who can kill us,'' Lieutenant-General Gillespie told the Herald.

''We understand that as a risk. We plan, we investigate, we use intelligence, we develop equipment, tactics and techniques and we confront it by reducing the risk as much as possible.
''Well there's an enemy back here that's twice as effective against us and we tend not to bring out our skills from our military culture to that problem.

''That's the real challenge … to convince the men in the army that they've got to do something about preserving themselves against this threat.''

General Gillespie said he was feeling great after surgery and would stay on as chief of the army. ''I'm as fit now as I ever was.''

General Gillespie joined the army as a 15-year-old bricklayer. His leadership skills were quickly noted and he was sent for officer training.

His confrontation with the disease persuaded General Gillespie to help launch the national Blue September campaign to encourage men to face up to cancer as a serious risk that they could do something about.

As part of that campaign, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Melbourne's Forum Theatre will be bathed in blue light to draw attention to the fact that one in two Australian men will be diagnosed with cancer before they reach 85, more than 24,000 will die of cancer this year and Australian men are twice as likely as women to die from cancers that can be prevented.

General Gillespie said he had a blood test 18 months ago that showed no evidence of cancer in his body. He had a follow-up test done early this year which indicated that he might have cancer.
In February, he had a biopsy ''for peace of mind''. ''It came back to say I had a cancer.' He opted for surgical removal of the prostate.

''I get asked a lot, 'What were your symptoms?' and the answer is, 'Absolutely none'.''



Army faces the enemy within (Australia)