Sir Geoffrey Boycott diagnosed with cancer again as cricket icon set for immediate surgery | Cricket | Sport
Cricket legend Sir Geoffrey Boycott has been diagnosed with throat cancer for the second time. The former England batsman has revealed that he will undergo immediate surgery.
Boycott, who is 83, accepts that he will need “luck” to recover from the cancer again. The operation will take place in two weeks’ time.
He told the Telegraph: “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.
“So I will just get on with it and hope for the best.”
Boycott, who played club cricket for Yorkshire, was previously diagnosed with throat cancer in 2002. Three cancerous tumours were found during examinations and he was told he would have three months to live if he did not receive immediate treatment.
He wrote in his autobiography, The Corridor of Uncertainty: “I can tell you that being given three months to live is a real show-stopper.
“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.”
He underwent radiotherapy and all three tumours had disappeared by early 2003, although he now hopes to avoid that type of treatment. The former player-turned-broadcaster was given a standing ovation by the Trent Bridge crowd later that year.
Boycott returned to commentary with Channel 4 following his recovery and later joined Radio 5 Live’s cricket coverage.
In a hugely successful playing career spanning from 1962 to 1986, Boycott scored 22 centuries in 108 test matches. He is considered one of England’s most successful opening batsman and played in the run to the 1979 Cricket World Cup played on home soil.
Boycott retired from BBC Test Match Special in 2020 after 14 years working for the corporation. He continues to contribute a column for a national newspaper.
