RACING legend and former star jockey John Letts is just "happy to be alive" after beating the prostate cancer he battled in private as he worked through last year's Melbourne Cup.
The two-time winner of Australia's greatest race, now known across the nation as "The Punter's Pal", has shared his fears about what he thought was "a death sentence" during an emotional exclusive interview with The Advertiser.
Letts faced death several times during a triumphant riding career that returned Melbourne Cups on Piping Lane (1972) and Beldale Ball (1980), but says the news that he had cancer was his most devastating moment.
"Emotionally, I've never felt anything like that,'' he said
"I've never had any symptoms, I've had no pain and then suddenly I'm facing what seemed like a death sentence."
Letts - who overcame dozens of major injuries, including a broken neck, during a 26-year riding career - struggled to deal with how he might confront his cancer.
"When I broke my neck, the doctor said I'd probably be a quadriplegic or at least a paraplegic, but I was fanatical about the rehab and worked my way back," he said.
"This was very different. I just felt I had no control and was totally in the hands of others."
John Letts, here enjoying a laugh with a camel in Alice Springs, has travelled the nation for the past eight years as a key member of the annual Melbourne Cup tour. Source: News Limited
Only a small group of family members and close friends knew that the man who was the first to interview Damien Oliver straight after he had won the 2013 Melbourne Cup on the Gai Waterhouse-trained Fiorente was coping with a personal secret.
A routine blood test was the first indication that Letts had the cancer that kills about 3400 men a year in Australia.
"Luckily I had that blood test because I've been a bit slack and I nearly let it go again," Letts said.
"I went in to the doc for a flu shot and when I was in there I thought I'd better have the blood test."
The initial results gave a positive reading and a subsequent biopsy confirmed the presence of cancer.
A consultation with leading Adelaide urologist Andrew Fuller left him in no doubt as to the procedure he preferred.
"I had the option of surgery, radiology or chemo (therapy) and I said 'I want it out, I don't want any cancer left in my body'," he said.
"I just didn't want to have to keep on dealing with it psychologically."
John Letts says it was only after a routine blood test that there was an indication that he had the cancer that kills about 3400 men a year in Australia. Picture: Mike Burton Source: News Limited
Just days after being a leading member of the Melbourne Cup coverage at the four-day Flemington Carnival last November, the 70-year-old entered hospital in Adelaide for surgery.
A post-operative setback complicated his recovery.
"I was lying in my hospital bed and they were playing replays of the Melbourne Cup on the TV," Letts said.
"There I was in the middle of it all and I had to reflect how quickly your life can change for the worse."
Letts - whose father, John, died of lung cancer - underwent a four-hour operation to remove his prostrate, a small gland in the male reproductive system.
Surgeons were able to remove all of the cancer.
Subzero and handler Graham Salisbury, Roy Higgins, John Letts, Des Gleeson, Sheila Laxon and Michael Clarke at the launch of last year's Melbourne Cup tour at Flemington racecourse. Source: News Limited
Prostate cancer diagnosis in Australia doubled between 1998 and 2008 - from 10,000 to 20,000 - and is expected to reach 30,000 a year by 2020.
The cancer is the most common cancer in Australian men (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer), accounting for 31 per cent of all new cancers in 2012.
Some of his support team included family friend Dr Barney McCusker, the former doctor to late business tycoon Allan Scott.
The leading orthopedic surgeon contacted AFL legends David Parkin and Don Scott, both prostate cancer survivors, who offered Letts support.
"Those blokes have been so good for me," said the winner of more than 2500 races, including more than 100 cups.
Johns Letts with his great mate, Banjo, on Derby Day last spring. Picture: Nicole Garmston. Source: News Limited
"A doctor can tell you everything will be OK but I felt a lot better talking to someone who had actually been there and done that.
"Scotty and David went public with their cancer battle to try and help other people and I wanted to do the same.
"Men have got a bad habit of saying 'she'll be right', but this is something they need to take very seriously.
"All you need is a regular blood test and the earlier they catch the cancer the better your chance of survival."
Letts has been supported by his wife of 36 years, Annie, his mother Georgina, 90, and his children Karen and Michael, from a previous marriage to Julie.
He has seven grandchildren.
Letts has been the star of the Melbourne Cup tour, run by the Victorian Racing Club for the past eight years, and has ridden former clerk-of-the-course horse Banjo for 23 successive years as part of the Melbourne Cup coverage.
In consultation with the medical professionals he was seeing, Letts decided to fulfil his commitments to the VRC and Channel 7, so chose to delay his surgery by a few weeks.
"I just don't like to let people down that I've given a commitment to," he said.
"As it is, I think I was as good as I've ever been doing that job.
"I'd been thinking this would be my last Melbourne Cup but the doc wasn't having any of that.
"'Don't burn that bridge,' Andrew said. 'We're going to get you back on the horse.'
"It's been a long road back but I'm ready to get back in the saddle."
John Letts celebrates the 40th anniversary of his Melbourne Cup win aboard Piping Lane in 1972. Source: News Limited
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