PROFESSOR Chris O’Brien, Australia’s foremost head and neck surgeon has lost his fight with fight with brain cancer aged 57.
O’Brien was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in November 2006; he was given six months to live.
The well-known face of Channel Nine’s RPA program, O’Brien, after undergoing three operations, radiotherapy and months of chemotherapy, as well as a regiment of him own natural medicine and mediation, surpassed the life expectancy of his doctors and colleagues.
O’Brien opened his Lifehouse Cancer Treatment Facility at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney in April 2009.
Lifehouse has been described as a revolutionary facility. The not-for-profit cancer research and treatment facility, integrates clinical care, research, education and holistic care for cancer patients.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said, at the opening of the centre it was one of the terrible ironies of life O’Brien should be diagnosed with the very type of cancer he did so much to fight against with his own patients.
O’Brien left his post as director of the Sydney Cancer Centre to work on his Lifehouse project after his cancer diagnosis.
Professor O'Brien was an advocate for alternative cancer treatments and his Lifehouse Treatment Centre had a focus on integrating these approaches.
On Monday he was due to be made an officer in the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday honour list.
He is survived by his wife and three children.
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