North Melbourne AFL president Sonya Hood’s workload almost cost her everything in cancer battle

North Melbourne president Sonja Hood has opened up about her shock battle with breast cancer and revealed her intense workload caused her to make a near fatal mistake.

Hood will return this week to watch her Kangaroos play after a whirlwind couple of months that involved a cancer diagnosis and undergoing major surgery.

‘I felt fine and then all of a sudden I’ve got this thing which might kill me,’ Hood told Channel 7.

‘We know that it was aggressive … it had come out of nowhere and it had come pretty fast.’

But it was almost too late for Hood, who had delayed having a mammogram because of her hectic work schedule.

North Melbourne president Sonja Hood has opened up about her shock battle with breast cancer, and how her intense workload almost caused her to make a fatal mistake

Hood will return this week to watch her Kangaroos play after a whirlwind couple of months that involved a cancer diagnosis and undergoing major surgery

‘I just hadn’t really had time, my job and everybody who follows footy will know how busy North was last year,’ she said.

Indeed, North Melbourne had a lot going on in 2022 with Alastair Clarkson at the centre of bombshell racism allegations from his time at Hawthorn as he came on board as the Kangaroos’ new coach.

‘Like lots of busy people, the things that take a backseat in your life are the things that you don’t think are important,’ she said.

‘And we all think that screening tests aren’t that important.

‘I’m now able to tell everybody with 2020 hindsight they are really important.’

Hood received treatment and then underwent an eight-hour major surgery that included a mastectomy and tissue reconstruction.

She is now cancer-free and still recovering from the ordeal. 

‘All of that had a pretty significant impact on my physical state, probably on my mental state as well if I’m being honest,’ Hood said.

North had a lot going on in 2022 with Alastair Clarkson (pictured with Hood) at the centre of bombshell racism allegations when he signed on to coach the side

Hood received treatment and then underwent an eight-hour major surgery that included a mastectomy and tissue reconstruction

‘It’s a heck of a way to get a lesson.’

Hood will watch North Melbourne take on Carlton in their Good Friday showdown at Marvel Stadium.