NASI MANU HAS just settled his young daughter back to sleep at their home in Treviso when he answers the phone.
Precious moments, intensified by what he’s been through.
The Benetton back row was diagnosed with testicular cancer last August and has come through chemotherapy in the months since to get good news three weeks ago as his specialist cleared him.
The shock, despair, hope, doubt, and relief have changed Manu forever.
Nasi Manu is now back running after coming through chemotherapy. Source: James Crombie/INPHO
“Being cleared, it’s just been great,” he says. “Leading up to it the appointment last month, I was preparing myself for potentially having another round [of chemotherapy]. I prepared myself for the worst and hoped for the best.
“When they gave me the news, I actually waited until we left the meeting until I really took in what the doctor said. I was nervous he might have said there was good news with some side news but when we left the room, we just celebrated in the hallway and it was pretty emotional.
“It’s definitely given me a fresh perspective and I feel like I’m now enjoying life a lot more, even the little things.
“You take a lot of things for granted, all the little things. It was a time for me where I got a lot of perspective on my priorities, how I want to try to live and what is really important to me.”
Being able to do light runs again is one of those little things, Manu enjoying the physical sensation of getting his body moving again. Already, he is dreaming of returning to the pitch to play for Benetton and possibly even Tonga, for whom he has three caps.
Those thoughts were a long way off back in August of last year, when Manu noticed that one of his testicles “wasn’t right.”
He delayed a few days before going to a doctor, who immediately sent him to the oncology department of Treviso hospital. Manu had been selected to start Benetton’s opening game of the season against Dragons but when he was referred for a specialist meeting, that picture changed.
When Manu was informed he needed to return for further tests and scans, he knew he was facing something serious.
On 31 August, the shocking news that he had testicular cancer was delivered to Manu and his wife, Alice. There was little time to process it before he was whisked into surgery.
Manu in action against Leinster last season. Source: James Crombie/INPHO
“I found out around 9.30 on Friday morning and I was in the operating room by 1.30pm,” he recalls.
“It was a lot to process but at the same time, it was almost nice that it was so quick because I didn’t have a lot of time to think about stuff in my head. I was in shock and immediately went into the operating theatre and got my testicle removed.”
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The days that followed the operation were nightmarish, as Manu lay in hospital waiting to find out if the cancer had spread elsewhere in his body.
But immediately, the support from Benetton buoyed him. Team-mates, coaches, and club staff visited him in the days leading up to the relief of learning the cancer had not spread.
Still, Manu faced into the grueling chemotherapy process. The support of his family and all in Benetton made it easier to cope with.