Carlton star Sam Docherty reveals he was 'terrified' when he finally left hospital after beating cancer for a second time - but not because he was worried about the disease returning

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Carlton star Sam Docherty has revealed what really made him 'terrified' after beating cancer for a second time - and it wasn't fear of the killer disease recurring. 

The inspirational Blues leader was diagnosed with stage 2 testicular cancer in 2020, and after returning to the field the following year was then told the cancer had come back.

Heartbreakingly, it had spread to his lymph nodes, lungs and stomach after he was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer, leading to 12 weeks in hospital for intensive chemotherapy. 

He has always retained his sunny and inspirational outlook and is one of the most popular players in the locker room at Princes Park. 

But Docherty, whose first child with wife Natalie was born in January, revealed that he was 'terrified' when leaving hospital after his long stint of chemotherapy because he feared Covid could strike when his body's immune system was at its lowest. 

Sam Docherty, pictured with wife Natalie, has revealed that he was terrified when leaving hospital after beating cancer a second time - but because he was worried about contracting Covid, not being diagnosed with cancer yet again

Docherty has beaten cancer twice in the last three years and returned to the field both times, inspiring the footy world

The Blues defender met with some sick kids recently, and knows all too well how scary it is for families when a loved one has to spend a lot of time in hospital 

'We were just coming out of Covid years, [and] I was terrified coming out of hospital going back into the world knowing that my immune system was low and the risk that had on me if I was in contact with Covid,' he said on Fox Footy's AFL360 on Tuesday night.

'All those families [who have someone in hospital with cancer] have had that fear for the last three or four years where they've obviously got their child that's going through a really tough time, but then if they get some chances to go outside, they've also got Covid [concerns]. 

'If an immunocompromised child gets Covid, that could have been the end.'

That sunny outlook aside, which has inspired many in the footy world - sometimes battling with cancer is just damn tough. 

Docherty said hospital always tested the mental strength of those who had to spend extended periods in them. 

'They're tough places to be. Anyone that's been hospital, as much as you try and talk yourself into the food being any good, the food's rough, you're staring at the four walls but you don't want to leave,' he said.

Docherty and his Blues teammates, who sit third on the ladder after an unbeaten start to the season (albeit with a draw included), are set to face off against the Kangaroos for their traditional Good Friday clash.

It coincides with the iconic Good Friday appeal for the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, with both sides visiting sick youngsters in the lead-up while raising awareness and funds for kids and their families who are battling with cancer.

Docherty appeared alongside another cancer sufferer, Kangaroos star Ben Cunnington to put a smile on a few faces on Monday and said now he is a parent himself, he feels the struggles of families who have children in the hospital. 

Docherty (right) and Kangaroos star Ben Cunnington pose with a sick child at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne on Monday as both clubs look to raise money and awareness with their annual Good Friday clash

Blues players pose for a photo with a young girl. Docherty said he now finds it difficult to visit sick kids as a new father 

Docherty and Cunnington both know all too well how tough it is to battle cancer

'I find going to the Royal Children's one of the tougher ones to do, more from your own personal bias … Now having a child myself puts an extra layer on it,' he said.

'I went there (on Monday) and there was a little girl that was in there and she'd been in there for 10 months. She found out on day 10 of her life that she had leukaemia, so their whole lived experience with their child has been in hospital.

'Sometimes it's not about the kid, it's actually about the family. It's about the mum and the dad that are sitting in the seat beside them that are watching their child go through something pretty tough. 

'Essentially you're bringing a smile onto their child's face, but a living memory that they get to take back home and wherever that brings great joy to their whole family.' 

Docherty's revelations about what scared him most about beating cancer for a second time and leaving hospital come just days after he revealed he had to have a benign tumour removed recently.

Docherty posed with newborn daughter Ruby to urge men to get checked for testicular cancer

The All Australian defender urged men to get themselves checked regularly, because, after all, prevention is better than cure. 

'April is Testicular cancer awareness month,' he wrote on social media alongside a photo of him and newborn daughter Ruby. 

'I think it’s important to continue to tell my story as a part of that. Part of my journey consists of a routine check up with my doctors which include regular scans and blood tests.

'In December last year my routine check up showed a benign tumor that needed to be removed surgically.

'It’s a timely reminder that if you are due to see your doctor or if anything doesn’t feel right with your health, please go get checked.' 

Brisbane and Collingwood will kick round four off with a mouth-watering match-up at the Gabba on Thursday night, before the Blues and Kangaroos clash at 4.20pm at Marvel Stadium.