"I want to give this cancer a black eye! I don't want to just roll over and say 'right, take me when you are ready' I want to give it a fight," chuckles Michael Putney, the Bishop of Townsville, who has vowed to get a few punches in as he battles stomach cancer, reports the ABC.
Bishop Putney was diagnosed with stomach cancer late last year, tests have shown the disease has spread to his liver and is inoperable.
"Medically it is already declared the winner I think, ultimately. But how long and how it does that, well chemo will affect that," he says.
Since his diagnosis Bishop Putney says he has had a number of realisations about the huge number of people with cancer and how fortunate his situation is.
As a Catholic bishop he says he does not have to worry about who will look after his family or who will continue his work after he is gone.
"Catholic Priests don't marry for the very reason that we are available whenever, even if it is available to have cancer.
"If that is what God is asking of me now, that is my job," he says.
The bishop says he is fortunate to have incredible support from the community, and says there are many patients going through the same journey alone.
FULL STORY Bishop of Townsville vows to fight cancer (ABC)