Sunday, December 22, 2024

Sir Geoffrey Boycott diagnosed with cancer for a second time as England cricket icon prepares for surgery

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England cricket legend Sir Geoffrey Boycott has revealed he’s been diagnosed with throat cancer for the second time.

The 83-year-old said in a statement that he will need to undergo an operation and he’ll requite ‘quite a bit of luck’.


He said: “In the last few weeks I have had an MRI Scan, CT Scan, a PET Scan and two biopsies and it has now been confirmed I have throat cancer and will require an operation.

“From past experience I realise that to overcome cancer a second time I will need excellent medical treatment and quite a bit of luck and even if the operation is successful every cancer patient knows they have to live with the possibility of it returning.

Sir Geoffrey Boycott will undergo surgery

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“So I will just get on with it and hope for the best.”

The operation is expected to take place in two weeks’ time.

Boycott was diagnosed with throat cancer back in 2002 and was told he had three months to live if the lump on his neck went untreated.

The Yorkshireman revealed he underwent 35 chemotherapy sessions before entering remission.

He credited his wife Rachael and daughter Emma for helping nurse him back to full health.

In his autobiography released 14 years ago, Boycott wrote: “I am always asked if cancer changed me. I don’t think anybody can totally change what they are: I’d always been a strident individual, forthright and frank, but cancer does smooth off a lot of the edges.

“Surviving cancer doesn’t stop you getting angry or mad sometimes, but Rachael gave me the best advice.

“She just said: ‘Say to yourself, ‘does it really matter?’ Does it matter if someone cuts across in front of me in their car, or my hotel room is not ready or there is a confused telephone receptionist when I ring up to speak to someone?’

Sir Geoffrey Boycott was last diagnosed with cancer in 2002

Sir Geoffrey Boycott was last diagnosed with cancer in 2002

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“OK, I still feel anger but it subsides quicker now. I have been lucky to have spent an extra 12 years of life with my wife and daughter and would rather like at least another 12, but if I die tomorrow I have had the pride of seeing that 14-year-old girl grow up into a beautiful young woman, qualify as a litigation lawyer and start her own Wedding and Events consultancy business.

“I will never know why I am still alive. The only thing I really do know for certain is I would not have survived without my wife Rachael being there for me.”

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Sir Geoffrey Boycott is regarded as one of England's greatest players

Sir Geoffrey Boycott is regarded as one of England’s greatest players

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Boycott is regarded as one of England’s greatest-ever cricket players and and is the seventh most-capped player for his country in Tests.

He scored 8,114 runs in 108 Test matches and averaged an incredible 47.72 runs over 193 innings.

His Test career included 22 centuries, which places him third in England’s all-time record.

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