The 35-year-old received his initial Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis in 2013. He recovered but the cancer returned just four years later, which he managed to beat again before retiring in 2019. Only positive is it is the same cancer as what I’ve had previously, but the issue for me this time is it’s gone on to my lungs, so breathing is a problem, sleeping is difficult and even talking sometimes can be quite hard.
The Bath-born player returned to Rochdale from Carlisle in 2016 but soon required extensive treatment for the disease again. He announced he was cancer free for a second time in June 2017, incredibly going on to score the goal which kept Rochdale in League One just a year later. LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 28: Joe Thompson of Rochdale battles with Erik Lamela of Tottenham Hotspur during The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round Replay between Tottenham Hotspur and Rochdale on February 28, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
Ultimately I want a quality of life where I can be like everybody else, play with my children, be as active as possible and enjoy life. “The problem with a third diagnosis is it’s like the grim reaper, here I am again. Then you start to think of all the emotions.
“I’d be lying if I said there’s not days where I doubt certain things, but I’ve always said I will never, ever give up, I’ll just get beaten if it does get on top of me.”
