Back on air: John Vennavally-Rao on reclaiming his career while living with cancer
CTV
'In February, there was a time when I thought my career as a TV reporter was over,' CTV News reporter and anchor John Vennavally-Rao writes.
In February, there was a time when I thought my career as a TV reporter was over. I was in the hospital, my liver showing signs of failure, my body struggling to recover from two major surgeries for two separate cancers.
The familiar world of TV reporting felt distant and out of reach. My identity as a journalist had dissolved — I was just someone hoping to survive, focused on finding the strength for a five-minute walk down the hospital hallway with a walker and an IV pole.
This month, I returned to work. And this week, you’ll see me back on the news.
It’s thrilling in a way I never expected. Stepping in front of the camera again, talking to people, and telling their stories felt like reclaiming a part of myself I thought I might never get back. Seeing my colleagues —who have been incredibly supportive throughout this journey — reminded me how much I missed the community that comes with this job.
For anyone living with advanced cancer, returning to work is a complicated decision. With two primary cancers — rectal and lung — the uncertainty of my future is undeniable.
Every three months, I have a CT scan to check if the cancers have returned. Follow-up appointments will be a constant in my life. But for now, the surgeries were successful, and I feel strong enough to be back in the field.
An American study found about a third of people with metastatic cancer continue to work. Some do it for financial stability, others for a sense of normalcy, identity, or purpose. For me, it’s all of the above.
