'It's inoperable': Rugby league legend's devastating cancer update

Tommy Raudokikis is undergoing experimental treatment as he fights to win his battle against inoperable cancer.

The rugby league legend has suffered a devastating setback after being given a clean bill of health 10 months ago.

Raudonkikis underwent surgery and chemotherapy to treat cancer in his neck, and thought he was out of the woods.

But Raudonikis’ partner Trish Brown has revealed his health has now deteriorated.

“When he got those results last year there was a little bit of cancer that the doctors thought would go away because of all the radiation and chemo in his body, but it didn’t,” Brown told The Courier Mail.

“The cancer is wrapped around his carotid artery. It is so close to his brain that it is inoperable.

“He couldn’t go through chemo again. He wouldn’t have been able to stand it, so the only option was to try a type of immunotherapy.

“He’s on a trial. There’s only three people in the world on it.”

Raudonikis receives injections in his neck that are designed to help his immune system combat the cancer, which Brown says have improved his health somewhat.

“There’s been a marked improvement over the past few days. He’s even started to get on to the exercise bike a bit.”

The 68-year-old Raudonikis played 239 first grade games across his career with Western Suburbs and Newtown.

He also represented NSW 24 times and Australia 20 times, and coached NSW in 1997 and 1998.