Never Say Die: RPA's Favourite Surgeon on his Life from Doctor to Patient

by Chris O'Brien

It was a cruel twist of fate: in November 2006 Chris O'Brien, one of the country's leading head and neck cancer surgeons, was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive and almost inevitably lethal form of brain cancer. As he knew, few sufferers survive past 12 months. Nevertheless, he was determined to beat the odds.

With the support of his close family, O'Brien took the option of radical brain surgery under the supervision of well-known neurosurgeon Dr. Charlie Teo. His health and relative youth - he was 54 when diagnosed - have helped him make the painful transition from doctor to patient, and renewed his faith in the importance of an optomistic outlook as the cornerstone of recovery.

Here, in his warm and lively memoir, Chris O'Brien takes a look back over his life and the forces that have shaped him - from his modest beginnings and early years as a doctor, to becoming the popular face of RPA and his crusade for the establishment of cancer centres, through to the shocking news that literally changed his life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Medical, Biography, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Australia, Medicine

306 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Diane in Australia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.

[Kirsty Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. A heart warming honest book from a true gentleman. "Treat patients as if they were family". You can hear his passion through his words. A remarkable man and a great loss felt by everyone.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would dearly love to give this book 5 stars, but the only thing that gave it a 4 is that i didnt feel the cover etc gave an accurate description of what the book was about. I was expecting a focus on his cancer battle, however its mostly a bio dedicated to his life in a linear fashion (only the first few and last 60ish pages of 320ish are dedicated to his battle with cancer).

Chris is no doubt an amazing man who contributed so much to society & cancer research/treatment development etc, i wish i had the chance to have met someone who was obviously loved by almost everyone he met.

While i was initially disappointed it was not focusing on his cancer battle (i work in a hospice so it lead me to the book), by the end i appreciated having read his story and life so i could better appreciate the context that is much necessary as to make his battle extremely unique regarding the fact he had dedicated much of his life to fighting the illness in others. I also liked his honest account of what he experienced as a patient himself and as a surgeon, i loved his approach to caring and his emphasis on health professionals maintaining support and optimism for their patients, and i think anyone in the health care profession should read and learn from him.

Furthermore while it was a mostly linear bio on his life, it was in no way boring, and i greatly enjoyed his incorporated humour. I also loved but was very saddened by the last few chapters, especially the last written by his daughter.

Im really glad to have read this book

[Lisa Brunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amazing man with a passion for treating ill patients!
He later found his passion in teaching all that he had learnt about medicine and treating cancers. He worked tirelessly and his idea of a special building called Sydney Cancer Centre later named Comprehensive Cancer Centre RPA was achieved by his quest to obtain Commonwealth contribution from the Government at the time, Kevin Rudd.
Chris O'Brien Life House for patients to receive therapies for healing before operations has been operating since 2009. "His Never Say Die'' attitude is believed by his family is what kept him alive for that little longer!
A brilliant story of an amazing life.

[Sherry Mackay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Crumbs! I hate to say this but this book was kinda tedious. I really admired Chris O’Brien for his valuable work as a doctor but his life story just wasn’t that interesting. Or maybe just not well told? As I’ve just read the book written by his daughter about her mother I.e. Chris’s wife, perhaps there just wasn’t more to tell. (Yes I know this was written first.). Not a bad read if you know little of his life and work.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second reading of this book, my last being probably in excess of six years ago. I enjoyed it a great deal more with the benefit of six more years. The illness features briefly at the beginning and again towards the end. It is a wonderful autobiography made more compelling of course by the cruel irony of the illness which claimed him.

[Keryl Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read about this incredible man.

[Deirdre Munckton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a personal interest in this book, having worked for several years with the author, prior to his diagnosis. Interesting to hear his perspective, and to learn his background.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful and interesting book by a great surgeon. it is a pity he is no longer here as he sounds like the most wonderful person. I wish I had watched more episodes of RPA after reading this book

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never missed RPA, I was always sitting ready as the program began to roll. Dr Chris O'Brien was a very talented head and neck surgeon; I loved the way he cared for and supported his patients. So when his horrific diagnosis was delivered - of the very same plight that he had been treating hundreds of his patients for - it was truly ironic and sadly unbelievable! Dr O'Brien wrote his story, while still hoping to beat this cruel beast. Little did I know that soon after (5 months to be exact) my own husband would also be given a cruel and life taking diagnosis.
It is heart breaking to say, they would both lose their battles - again only 5 months apart, in 2009. Ironically their illnesses seemed to run parallel - although very different diseases and very different men! I have found Chris O'Brien's words and thoughts both a comfort and a driving force to tell my own story. His changed belief that illness - was not caused by stress - has been a powerful push, as I have lived and witnessed how stress has overtaken and ruined lives!
R.I.P. Eric Jones and Chris O'Brien

[I love books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting autobiography but some factual errors seriously bugged me. For example, Professor O'Brien's old school (which coincidentally was also the former school of Paul Hogan) was not situated right next to a more elite King's school, as was repeatedly stated. He stated that a Monsignor would "thump" boys during confession at "St Patrick's Cathedral" which was actually known as St Patrick's Church in the day. However I remember the confessional cubicles in the exact same church- they were divided with only a tiny door at the top - no way the person on one side could hit the person on the other side. What other sections of the book were affected by creative license I wonder? A goodread all the same.

[Colin Timbrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy autobiography of a wonderful man. Chris O'Brien had a huge work ethic and was a natural leader who tackled life with enormous energy and a positive spirit. The most interesting part to me was his formative years and his humble background. It provided hints about his motivation for his hugely productive and compassionate life. He himself speculated that his motivation could have been feelings of guilt and unworthiness instilled by his Catholic upbringing. Sadly this could have manifested itself in his stressful and overloaded life and possibly caused his untimely medical diagnosis. This story is eloquently told and flows well. Although for me too many details and acquaintances were included for me to fully appreciate. Nevertheless, an inspiring read.

[Carole Cogdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is easy to read, quick & efficient & very much written by a medical practitioner who has spent a lot of his life doing research & data collecting. 0 A lot about his life, humble beginnings to world leader in the treatment of cancer and only 1/4 about his diagnosis, prognosis, & treatment for brain tumor. There is a distance between him & the reader, like that between Doctor and patient. I understood the feelings around being told & fighting; about mortality & the unknown. He lived longer than originally foretold & was open to what the universe presented along the journey

[Taylor Aldeghi · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.8 stars
I’ll start by saying I did not know who Dr. O’Brien was before starting this, so I did not have a reason to be invested. I got this book while traveling and having very limited options, but it was decent. I felt it dragged on a bit, but to be fair I am not a fan of memoirs, since real life is boring to me. Still, I have a lot of respect for this doctor, I just feel very neutral towards this book.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly Chris O'Brien was a very inspiring man, for all he did in his chosen field of medicine, but also for his courageous fight against cancer, which sadly took his life after his book was published. I did expect the book to be more about his cancer journey however I still found it to be an interesting and uplifting read.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris O'Brien achieved a lot in his 57 years on this earth and his life before he was diagnosed with a brain tumour was just as interesting as after. He writes well and fluently with a humorous turn of phrase that had me laughing in a few places. An inspiring book about an extraordinary man.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful memoir. Chris O’Brien was a gifted surgeon, but was a husband and father first and foremost. I really enjoyed reading this book. He sadly lost his life to an aggressive cancer a few short years after his initial diagnosis and treatment. Great read.

[Kristy Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked Chris on RPA but really struggled to read this.

[Geoffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable, interesting & sad but with humour

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 *

[Rev David Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written memoir. A most worthwhile book

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an inspirational person. Chris is remarkable, but humble. Enjoyed reading the story of his life.

[Heidi Blasig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story of an amazing human, would be of particular interest to head and neck cancer patient

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A privilege to read ... thankful for his pioneering work

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Such a wholesome inspiring book. It delevs into O'brien's very courageous and realistic state of mind during some of the most trying times in his life. He faces his most heartbreaking challenges and is not afraid to show us his vulnerability. RIP

[Rav · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring book from a man who made a significant difference to people with cancer in Australia. He's written it in a casual, conversational style, without a hint of grandiosity: Chris O'Brien is one of the most humble humanitarians Australia has seen. I love how he also includes honest reflections on his personal life, particularly both the bliss (in meeting his wife, learning breakthrough techniques in the USA), and in the suffering (on receiving his diagnosis of cancer, and his struggles in living through it).

This book may be difficult to truly appreciate from a non-medical background, however it is definitely a recommended read for anyone interested in medicine and healthcare, and for those interested in serving the community.

[matthew mcdonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

A straightforward autobiography by a prominent Australian head and neck cancer surgeon who died from head cancer.

I enjoyed the first quarter or so of the book, about his life at school and university. The bit at the end about his life after the cancer diagnosis was also interesting. The middle half of the book, which was mainly a recitation of his career achievements was less interesting.

My main reason for reading this was that Chris O'Brien was my mother's surgeon when she had cancer. His cancer was diagnosed was about a year after Mum's treatment finished. Mum was very glad to have had such a capable surgeon, and said he was a nice bloke.

[Dimity Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the bleak, confusing and catastrophic days of dealing with our own traumas, RPA's favourite surgeon was a continued source of inspiration and hope. His untimely passing is tragic but definitely not in vain. His memoir is surprisingly candid, uplifting and inextricably inspirational as well, rather like how I imagine he was in person. Chris writes with warmth and understanding. Never once did I feel overwhelmed by weighty medical terms or a world which I have only briefly entered as an uncomfortable observer, thank God. A stirring yet in no way despairing read.

[Beverly Hollandbeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is supposed to be an account of a doctor who is diagnosed with a brain tumor. I thought it would be interesting to see what health services look like from this viewpoint. However, only the last 50 pages of the 255-page book deal with this part of his life. The rest of the book is his life story, which bears just a little bit of relevance to his illness (relevant in that he was in the medical profession). I could have skipped the first 200 pages and not missed a whole lot.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an inspired and inspiring life Chris O'Brien led. He always came across as such a kind caring person on RPA and it was a gift to be allowed to read behind the public scenes into his life. He did so much for cancer treatment and awareness in Australia and throughout the world then to be afflicted with this insidious disease was a cruel twist of fate indeed.