PORT ADELAIDE star forward Robbie Gray knows more than most about the importance of his health and he wants other men to learn from his experience.

At the end of the 2017 season the three-time John Cahill Medallist was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

He then had surgery to remove a tumour and underwent a precautionary course of chemotherapy.

While the 30-year-old has returned to full fitness and played his first game of the season in the important win over Sydney on Sunday, he insists he has learnt a valuable lesson about his health.

Gray has been announced as an SA Health Men’s Health Ambassador and he hopes to inspire other men to be more in tune with their bodies.

“It was obviously a really tough time and the support I got from everyone was just amazing so I’m really grateful for that and happy to have that in the past now but if I can help others then it’d be good,” Gray said of his experience

“After what I went through last year, if I could get something positive out of it and help others and bring some awareness to other men about getting onto these health problems a bit earlier then that would be a good thing.

“We’re probably not that good at being organised as blokes and we tend to put things off a bit like seeing a doctor, so if I can create a bit of awareness about that kind of thing then it’d be valuable.”

The three-time All-Australian visited patients undergoing chemotherapy in the Royal Adelaide Hospital on Wednesday and helped spread some cheer.

He said many people he met were having a more testing experience than he had.

“It’s certainly tough seeing people going through a tough time so if I can put a smile on their face by coming in here and seeing them then it’s a positive,” Gray said.

“I just encourage blokes to live a healthy lifestyle and if you’re not feeling quite right go and see a doctor.

“We can be a bit disorganised but if you can see your doctor more regularly and get onto things early then you can get a better outcome.”

SA Health Chief Medical Officer Professor Paddy Phillips said it was fantastic to have Gray on board as a Men’s Health Ambassador.

“Having him as a role model for all men, not just younger men, but older men like me as well, it’s really important,” he said.

“I think we think we’re immortal, we think we’re tough but actually on average as men we live about five years less than women.”

“About five men die each hour from preventable illnesses and diseases.

“We have a responsibility not only to ourselves but to our families to stay fit and healthy to help look after them.”

And it’s just simple things like eat well, don’t smoke, drink in moderation, exercise regularly, have a GP and undergo regular check-ups.”

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