Hawthorn AFL player Jarryd Roughead has begun immunotherapy treatment for cancer.

The 29-year-old is expected to be out of football for at least 12 months after being diagnosed with a recurrence of melanoma in May.

“In conjunction with established cancer therapies, immunotherapy provides real hope for more effective treatment of a wide range of cancers, including melanoma,” Dr Mark Shackleton from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre told AFL.com.au.