West Ham icon Ludek Miklosko reveals heartbreaking cancer battle and stops treatment to ‘enjoy best quality of life’
WEST HAM hero Ludek Miklosko has revealed he's been battling cancer for the last few years.
The former Hammers stopper discovered he was fighting the deadly disease three years ago after finding a small lump on his hip.
The 63-year-old's initial treatment went well, although doctors failed to discover several other tumours in his body - including an inoperable stomach tumour.
Miklosko underwent radiotherapy to shrink the growth although doctors soon discovered there were several other tumours.
The only operation left to Miklosko was chemotherapy, which doctors couldn't guarantee would be a success.
And the retired keeper has made the heartbreaking decision not to have chemo in order to ensure he has the best quality final days possible.
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Explaining his decision not to have the treatment, he told West Ham's official website: “I was thinking about this, and had another conversation with the doctor in Ostrava.
"And it was made clear to me that there could be no guarantees that it would work.
"Maybe it would help to slow it down a little bit, but it would not stop it and there would be other issues to deal with.
“I decided not to take the chemotherapy, because I want to live a normal life.
"I have very good people around me, and I have my work and my football, which is my life, all I have known. I want to keep doing that for as long as I can.”
Miklosko was put off undergoing the gruelling and debilitating chemo once it was made clear to him that his entire life would be put on hold.
He said: “When they told me about what the chemotherapy would mean, it was a case of not being able to work or be around my colleagues for around six months, not travel, have some sickness and everything else.
"And I said, 'No – I do not want that. There is no point. “I want to live my life.'"
Miklosko will be in attendance at the Olympic Stadium this evening for the Hammers' clash with Prem table-toppers Liverpool.
The club will pay tribute to their former keeper ten minutes before kick-off.
Miklosko is looking forward to returning to East London, saying: "It will be very special to me.
“And, of course, the supporters. After all these years, they still remember me, still sing my name, and that is a great feeling.
“I have two football clubs in my heart, Banik Ostrava and West Ham United, and in a funny way they are very similar.
"Even the mentality of the fans, very similar. Hard-working people, loyal and passionate.
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"If I am ever doing an interview here in the Czech Republic, I am always saying this and making this comparison.
“West Ham United is my second family. And I really am looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday.”
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