It has been confirmed that four small spots were found on Jarryd Roughead's lungs when the four-time premiership Hawk underwent a regulation cancer scan a fortnight ago.
A biopsy last week confirmed the initial diagnosis.
Despite the "scary" news, Roughead vowed he wasn't going anywhere and intended to return to the footy field as soon as possible.
"When the news hit two weeks ago, it was shock and I didn't really believe it," Roughead said.
"Obviously I was a bit emotional about it all, but now as we've had the biopsy and I've seen the doctors and understand what needs to happen ... it's head down and bum up."
Tuesday morning marked the first time Roughead opened up about his cancer battle since news broke that the disease had returned and spread to other parts of his body.
The 29-year-old admitted that his shock was compounded by the fact that he was feeling well and he was hoping to play this week against Melbourne at the MCG.
"The doc was pretty up front with what happened and what needs to happen, footy becomes second nature and you've got to worry about our health and yourself and family and friends and who needed to know," Roughead said.
Roughead will begin revolutionary immune therapy next week.
"I'm going to Peter Mac (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre) and having the treatment that needs to be done," he said.
"I understand the drugs we need to use are very, very good and the percentages are very good, so we just head in there, get the treatment done.
"I'm still going to be out here (at the club) and going on trips, I don't lose my hair, I'll be the same old me, just unfortunately I cannot play."
Hawthorn club doctor Michael Makdissi explained the treatment consisted of a "quick injection" and was an "in-and-out" procedure.
"The treatment is one of the new immune therapies, it's not chemotherapy. There has been a fair bit of news about immune therapy, it has changed the landscape of melanoma treatment," Makdissi said.
"The advantage is you don't get typical side effects but the disadvantage is you don't know what the side effects will be."
The key forward was diagnosed with a melanoma on his lip last season, which had to be removed.
Roughead, who had also suffered a serious knee injury earlier this year, has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Earlier
Hawthorn star Jarryd Roughead has opened up about his battle with cancer.
Roughead, 29, has not spoken publicly since a regular scan showed the skin cancer he had fought last year had returned and spread to his body. He had a biopsy last week.
He appeared at the press conference at the Hawks' training base alongside club doctor Michael Makdissi and football operations manager Chris Fagan.
Coach Alastair Clarkson said on Friday Roughead was due to meet with specialists to determine the next stage of his treatment. This could feature chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Roughead had a melanoma removed from his lower lip in July last year.
He has not played a match this season, having initially been sidelined because of knee surgery in February. He has continued to work on his injury rehabilitation since the cancer re-emerged.
The 231-game veteran joined teammates in Brisbane over the weekend to help celebrate the 250th match of great mate, Jordan Lewis.
The Hawks have tried to keep everything "as normal as possible" since Roughead's latest diagnosis.
"The Roughy stuff we just want to keep as normal as possible," Clarkson said after the win over the Lions on Saturday.
"That'll unfold over the next few weeks in terms of the treatment he needs to get but he's got great support from his mates.
"I don't think any one of our players are playing for Roughy as much as they are playing for what the team needs right at that point in time.
"Obviously, you have a lot of empathy for what he is going through but we'll get ourselves ready for Melbourne next week and look forward to that contest."
