Jockey Bobby El-Issa is matter-of-fact about having a bone marrow infusion a couple of weeks ago.

It is a part of his life.

A life that he was given only slim hopes of continuing a couple of years. The prognosis for acute myeloid leukaemia isn't good.

"It has made me enjoy life and not worry about things too much," El-Issa said. "I wasn't supposed to ride again, there is only a slim chance that you get through it at all.

"They told me there is a chance of it coming back, but I don't think so. You don't think of that."

Early treatment is the only chance of beating the blood cancer and El-Issa had four rounds of chemotherapy before getting the all clear.

"You learn to enjoy everything. I have my family and enjoy every moment with them and every moment of being a jockey again," he said. "I don't think many people were thinking I would ride again. Some didn't think I would get through it.

"So getting a bone marrow infusion, every three or four months, is something that happens and you get used to it."

Most people would think life would slow down when you are still being treated for cancer. But El-Issa sees it differently. He knows how far he can push his body, so within weeks of being in hospital he will walk into the jockeys' room at Rosehill on Saturday.

"You just do what you have to and then get on with life. That for me is being a jockey," he said.

"My passion has been riding, so once I got the all clear that's what I wanted to do.

"Riding again I was a winner. But I really enjoy every winner I get now and even walking into the jockeys' room is great."

El-Issa has made a successful return to riding with more than 20 winners around the state, but when he got a couple of suspensions back-to-back last month it brought an opportunity of a different sort.

Most jockeys would be frustrated to be sidelined for three weeks but for El-Issa it made sense to get some treatment.

"I had just been feeling a bit off and ended up in hospital for a couple of days. I had the time off, so got some bone marrow and it helped," El-Issa said. "They knock you out and it takes three or four hours. You are right a couple of days later.

"Riding is what I do and I just wanted to get back to it as soon as I could. I had three weeks off with the suspension and then took another week just to make sure I was right.

"I feel good. This is an opportunity [to be riding again) and I am going to get a chance to ride in town again, and make the most of it.

"You want to get back there but you have work harder to get there because there are so many young jockeys looking for that opportunity as well."

El-Issa was back riding barrier trials at Warwick Farm last week and looking forward to the chance of picking up rides at Rosehill. At 40 he knows that this is a second chance.

"I have had a couple of [recent] rides in town but always good to be there on a Saturday," El-Issa said. "It is just good to be back because when I was an apprentice I had quite a bit of success in town.

"You don't understand, now I just want to enjoy it every time I walk into a jockeys' room like Rosehill."

Jason Attard booked him for Shalmaneser for Rosehill on Saturday, after the six-year-old was placed there three weeks ago. El-Issa had ridden him before his suspension and is happy to be back on him.

The former two-time champion apprentice of Sydney believes Shalmaneser is suited getting to a trip of 2000 metres.

"He is a good chance because I think this is probably his best trip," he said. "I rode him over a mile, that was bit short, but he went better last start.

"I'm not going there to make up the numbers. I think he is a winning chance.

"It is something I am going to enjoy."

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