THOMPSON KEEPS ON DEFYING THE ODDS
FA CUP FIFTH ROUND Joe wins TWO cancer battles
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WHATEVER the outcome between Rochdale and Tottenham, brave cancer survivor Joe Thompson will be a winner.
He is very much Rochdale’s home grown hero.
Born in the town 28 years ago and now in his third spell with the League One strugglers, the midfielder is closing in on 200 appearances for them.
It’s a landmark Thompson feared he would never reach, having been first diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in November 2013 when he was at Tranmere.
Amazing
Within seven months he was in remission and resumed his career – only to be struck down a second time 14 months ago.
Again he defied the odds, not only beating the disease a second time but amazing medical experts by playing football again.
His story is so inspiring that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola invited him in to speak to the club’s young players.
Tomorrow’s match with Spurs could yet be the crowning moment of an extraordinary battle.
“My doctors think I’m crazy,” said Thompson.
“I really shouldn’t be playing at all this season because my body needs to recover from the treatment, which I finished last June.
“It was a particularly potent form of chemotherapy that I had to go through and I lost two-and-a-half stone in weight – dropping to 10 stone – so it will take time to get myself back to the level of fitness I need as a professional athlete.”
Thompson found it incredibly tough when the cancer returned.
“The second diagnosis was unexpected and obviously a hard blow to take,” he told ESPN FC. “The first time, when it was in my blood, I displayed symptoms.
“There were none the second time around but the cancer returned to my chest and was spreading to my armpit.
“But having beaten it once I was positive that I could beat it again and I carried on playing because I wanted to be fit enough to win my battle.”
Thompson knows no matter what shocks and surprises lie in store tomorrow his is already the most heartwarming story of the season.
“City had asked me down to their training ground to speak to their Under-23 team,” he said.
“It allows me to get my thoughts off my chest and also answer any questions that people may have.
“At the end of it Pep called me over and said, ‘How are you, Joe? It’s so good to see you’.
Advice
“I was a bit choked because Pep is one of the biggest names in the world, but he knew my story and wanted to know how I was.
“It was an inspirational moment for me.
“I’m not the first person to beat cancer twice but I know seeing me on the pitch against Spurs could be one of those moments which inspires somebody.
“I have been through hell twice but the only advice that I could give people is that they should think positive thoughts and be the best person you can be.”