Former Rochdale midfielder Joe Thompson says there may be “a fight still going on inside” after receiving the news that he has been diagnosed with cancer for the third time.
The 35-year-old has stage 4 lymphoma that has spread to his lungs.
In 2013, Thompson was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In 2017 she recovered from the disease and in 2017 the disease recurred. He recovered for the second time.
“[It is] far from ideal and the comeback is quite aggressive, so stage four,” he told BBC Radio Manchester.
“[The] The only positive is that it is the same cancer I had before, but the problem for me this time is that it has attacked my lungs, so breathing is a problem, sleeping is difficult and sometimes even speaking can be quite difficult.
“There’s definitely a fight still going on inside, nothing’s changed, but facing it a third time really hurts because you know what you’re going to have to go through.”
Thompson retired from the game in 2019 after 203 appearances for Rochdale and stating that he had “pushed his body to its absolute limits”.
After returning to action for a second time after cancer in December 2017, Thompson scored the goal that helped Rochdale avoid relegation from League One.
“It’s weighing all your options and trying to understand what do you want from life? Ultimately, I want a quality of life where I can be like everyone else, play with my children, be as active as possible and enjoy life,” he continued.
“The problem with the third diagnosis is that I’m like the grim reaper: here I am again. Then you start thinking about all the emotions.
“I’d be lying if I said there weren’t days where I doubted things, but I’ve always said I would never, ever give up. I will simply be defeated if it touches me.”
“How can I spin it when I’m in it?”
After retiring from sports, Thompson worked in the media as a pundit, in addition to a mentor and motivational speaker.
But with his cancer back on course, Thompson says he now has to “find a way” to specific the positives of his situation when he returns to his speaking duties in late April.
“For example, public speaking. I can give you an ending to the present and it is positive. But how do I shoot it when I’m in it?” he added.
“Now how can I tell you a positive story when I currently have stage four cancer?
“I will find a way, I have an important interview at the end of April but I don’t know how I will handle it, but storytelling is extremely important and you want to take them through it all emotionally and I want them to leave on a positive note. That’s what I was struggling with.”
Credit : www.bbc.co.uk
