As a 20-year-old footballer in peak condition, Johnny Koutroumbis’ life was turned upside down when he was told by doctors ‘you have cancer’.
Johnny, who is from Adelaide in South Australia, was living away from his family in Newcastle, New South Wales, when he noticed a change in his health and a mysterious lump on his neck.
As someone enjoying a successful career in the A-League, Australia’s professional football league, Johnny told himself there was nothing to worry about and put his concerns to the back of his mind to concentrate on playing for Newcastle Jets.
Johnny said: “I think people can have misconceptions about cancer, the impact it can have on anyone at any time, I often speak to people who are surprised by story.
“Prior to my diagnosis I had never had any health issues, I was a fit, young, professional footballer, I never thought anything like that would happen to me. But prior to my diagnosis, when I look back, there were probably signs before I noticed the lump on my neck. I was feeling more fatigued and tired, I was waking up with cold sweats. I was noticing my performance had dipped in training and I couldn’t work out why.
“I found this lump at the base of my neck, it was the size of a golf ball, I know it’s strange to say but I didn’t think much if it, I was always quick at fighting off any bugs or colds so I really put it to the back of my mind and just thought I’d feel better”.
As time passed, the lump remained and symptoms persisted. Ahead of a match, Johnny decided he would see what some of his club’s medical professionals thought of it.
He said: “I was playing for Newcastle Jets at the time, and we had a pre-season game. I was focused on the match, but as there had been no change in the lump on my neck I decided to go up to the stadium early to show the club physio and doctor, who said they would sort some tests. I wanted to play in the game and insisted on it, but I felt tired, my decision making was totally off, I felt my mind wandering, I just didn’t feel right at all.
“After the game I was flying home to Adelaide for a friend’s 21st birthday party, while I was there I showed my mum the lump on my neck and told her I had spoken with the doctor. From the Monday, I had tests for the following 10 days.
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“Then I was given the news. I remember sitting in the specialists room with my mum when he said it was cancer. I was looking at the floor, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It wasn’t an easy discussion. My mum was in tears, she still looks at me as her baby and I could tell she was heartbroken hearing the news too”.
The tests confirmed that Johnny had thyroid cancer, but that it had been caught early and treatment could start right away.
Johnny’s parents took a break from their job to support him back in Newcastle, where he spent two weeks in hospital having surgery and treatment. Remarkable, six weeks after his surgery, Johnny was back playing football.
“It was a scary experience, when someone tells you that news so much goes through your head. I think I got back so quickly as I had something to focus on and that was my aim. I wanted to play. Having the surgery in Newcastle, my team were my family away from family, football means so much to me and I wanted to get back to normality as soon as I could.
“My support network was huge, family and friends and the entire football community in Australia too, rivalry goes out the window the support I had across the A-League was incredible.
“Looking back it’s humbled me, I think I thought I was invincible, I didn’t think something like this would happen to me. I’m now aware of my body and listen to it, I know how quickly things can change and I’m thankful that it was caught so quickly. No everyone has that same experience and have had more difficult journeys than myself. Never be too brave to go and speak to a specialist or ask for help, if something is wrong it’s important that it’s caught early”.
Now 26 and playing with Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, following a move in 2024, Johnny hasn’t looked back since his successful treatment.
After arriving in Scotland he was made aware of Worldwide Cancer Research, a charity that funds vital discovery research across the globe to find new cures for cancer.
“As someone who has recently moved to the other side of the world, it’s amazing to see a charity that funds research into any type of cancer, in any location, this has universal impact,” Johnny said.
He added: “My opinion is that we evolve all the time, new diseases can appear and diseases can adapt and change, but treatment can also get more advanced too. Research like Worldwide Cancer Research’s is vital and so important as you want to learn as much as possible to understand and uncover new ways to treat and prevent cancer.
“When you’re told you have cancer, it’s such a tough pill to swallow, so it’s so reassuring to know that the finest minds across the world are working hard to find breakthroughs to help patients, that’s an amazing thing”
