Dale ace posts update on his cancer battle
AFOOTBALL hero who is battling cancer for the second time has shared a picture of himself as he begins his hospital fight.
Rochdale FC midfielder Joe Thompson, 28, beat nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma after six months of chemotherapy in 2014 – but in March this year he received the devastating news that the cancer had returned.
On Monday he posted a picture of himself in hospital on Twitter with the message and expressed his hopes for the future: “Little update. First day of the stem cell harvest process!
“Docs are very surprised with how good my blood counts are! Heart is super fit.”
And he has seen support from his followers on the social media site. Ryan Lowe tweeted ‘Good luck mate x’ and David Graham said ‘Keep positive pal.’
Anthony Knockaert tweeted ‘Good luck mate. Keep being strong.’
The former Manchester United youth team player insists he will once again defeat the disease.
In a statement released following his diagnosis in March he said: “I will fight this life hurdle with the same belief, courage and desire as my previous battle. The support shown to me since I discovered my illness has been immense.
“I would like to thank my wife, Chantelle, who was my rock in my first encounter and will once again be by my side with the same encouragement, discipline and strength.
“Not to mention the love shown to me by both my wife and beautiful daughter Thailula Lily who are both my motivations daily.”
Thompson spoke out last month about how his biggest fear is the impact his illness will have on his daughter, who is four.
Speaking to The Sun he said: “You don’t want to worry her too much because daddy is going to be all right, but you don’t know how she’ll take it.”