Hartson on the road to recovery.

Bandit12

Former Wales international footballer John Hartson has spoken of his relief at being told cancer has been "virtually eradicated" from his body.

The ex-Arsenal and Celtic striker was diagnosed in July with testicular cancer that had spread to his brain.

He was admitted to hospital in his home city of Swansea, where he was told the disease had also spread to his lungs.

Hartson, 34, said: "I'm not out of the woods yet, though this is my brightest day for a long time."

The footballer underwent emergency surgery after he was diagnosed with cancer.

He went home from hospital in Swansea in August after completing the first phase of his chemotherapy treatment.


We've all been through so much and to get the news from the doctors that the cancer is going from me is fantastic
John Hartson

His agent Mark Brodie released a statement saying the cancer had been "virtually eradicated".

However, he said the footballer, who went on to become a TV pundit, still has an "arduous journey ahead to complete recovery" and requires extensive surgery to remove "abnormal masses" in his lung and brain over the forthcoming months.

But Hartson said the latest news is a huge boost.

"We've all been through so much and to get the news from the doctors that the cancer is going from me is fantastic," he said.

"I would like to thank every single person that has taken the time to either write to me, phone me or leave a message online, your ongoing support is helping me through the battle of my life and is keeping Sarah and the kids upbeat in such terrifying circumstances.

"I'm not out of the woods yet, though this is my brightest day for a long time."

He said well-wishers including cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, had kept him fighting.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8394822.stm
Great news for the big man.:)

Leiva

Great News , hope the treatment keeps going in this direction .

SlickRic

great to hear.

awesome to see him smiling as well when reading through the BBC website.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8394822.stm

Agricola

Good News Indeed.

Guess the quote:

""Bill, Hartson is not a 7million pound player...its a disgrace, a shambles! This is the state of football today Bill. I have a clip here of why Hartson is NOT a £7million player....Roll it there Bill!(literally 1 second in to the clip) OKAY, HOLD IT THERE BILL!!! (draws a circle around Hartson's arse) Bill, that is NOT the arse of a £7million player!''

Chardee MacDennis

fantastic news, he was on deaths door at one stage....

A Dub in Glasgo

I thought he was a gonner. Well pleased he is recovering.

flanzer

Never liked the guy, in fact I think he's a scumbag but if it gives hopes to other cancer sufferers, I do hope he makes a full recovery. Not many come through what he's been through, so fair play to him

Fratton Fred

flanzer wrote: »

Never liked the guy, in fact I think he's a scumbag but if it gives hopes to other cancer sufferers, I do hope he makes a full recovery. Not many come through what he's been through, so fair play to him

I think Hartson was one of those players that if he played for your team you loved him, if not you hated him. A bit like Craig Bellamy.

Very good to hear, I too thought he was on his way out.

That_Guy

Great news. Was watching Soccer AM a few weeks ago and he was on the phone talking. Sad to hear him really but this is excellent news.

Le King

Brilliant. I'm delighted for the big man.

Podge2k7

Great to hear.

x in the city

thought he was fubared, cancer in the brain and he is on the road to recovery, not many would survive that

hope he gets back to full health, peoples opinion of him should not distract from a terminal illness like cancer

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Great news. The first Celtic players' name that I knew.:D

flanzer

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I think Hartson was one of those players that if he played for your team you loved him, if not you hated him. A bit like Craig Bellamy.

Very good to hear, I too thought he was on his way out.

This always stuck in my mind. Not nice. To go for the head is low. But as I said if it gives hopes to other cancer sufferers, I do hope he makes a full recovery

A Dub in Glasgo

If you ever supported Celtic when Berkovic was playing, you can understand it

Peyton Manning

Bump.

Just flicked over to the West Ham - Arsenal game and seen that John Hartson is in the studio. Great to see, and he's looking as well as ever! Fair play to the big lad, He's winning (if not already won) the biggest battle of his life. Puts a lot of things we get upset (and delighted) about in here into perspective!

flahavaj

Archimedes wrote: »

Bump.

Just flicked over to the West Ham - Arsenal game and seen that John Hartson is in the studio. Great to see, and he's looking as well as ever! Fair play to the big lad, He's winning (if not already won) the biggest battle of his life. Puts a lot of things we get upset (and delighted) about in here into perspective!

Aye this and the news that Mrs van der Sar is making a good recovery puts it all in perspective really.

Quint

I always liked Hartson, I really hope he pulls through this.

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

If you ever supported Celtic when Berkovic was playing, you can understand it

Is that because of how he played, or just because of the person he was?
As far as I know, Berkovic wasn't like by a lot of players at all his clubs. The Israeli Craig Bellamy

yabadabado

great to see hartson in the studio for the cup game.he seems to be in good form and looking healthy.