Archived News from November 2004
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CANCER CONFIRMED, BUT HOPE FOR SCOTT
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CHAD:
Cancer confirmed, but hope for McNiven SCOTT McNiven's hopes of being given the all-clear on Tuesday were shattered by the devastating news that his tumour was malignant. But McNiven was given hope by the doctors when he was told it a milder form of cancer than some and should hopefully be cured by a course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The 26-year-old Stags defender had a testicle removed last week and had spent an anxious seven days waiting for the news. "I don't know what to think now," he said. "I had been thinking it would be one of two answers and it ended up being somewhere down the middle. "You don't want to be told you have cancer, but apparantly it could have been worse. They told me there are two sorts of cancer and this one is the milder form - if there can be a milder form." McNiven must now wait for his operation wound to heal before he can start treatment. He added: "I have been in a lot of pain as you can imagine. "And, with what has been happening with me and what has been going on at the club, it has been a totally surreal week. "I wondered if if I was still on the drugs they gave me for the operation! I am still in a state of disbelief. "The advertising campaign over testicular cancer did help prompt me to go to the doctor. But you don't believe it can really haappen to yourself until the doctor actually sits you down. "His words didn't really sink in until I actually had the operation. "I just concentrated my mind on other things like getting through training and playing in the Bury game. I just wanted things to stay normal at the club. "It was extremely difficult playing against Bury, especially with the fans not knowing. "I was very emotional before, during and after the game and if any of the fans saw the tears in my eyes, they would have wondered what the hell was wrong with me. "But the support I have had has been fantastic. "Keith Curle and John Gannon were first class when they were told and I had a phone call from Neil Harris, from Millwall, who has been through the same thing. "He told me what to expect and I was able to ask him questions which was really good. It gave me a bit of a lift." McNiven is determined to return to a Stags shirt this season and said: "There is no time scale yet on when I could return to playing - I wish there was. "I want to get back to it as soon as I can. But I won't rush myself and make things worse for the sake of a couple of weeks. "I should know more when I see a specialist later this week. Right now I am ready to face what has to be faced and I just want to get the whole thing over and done with." Club chairman Keith Haslam said: "It just puts the rest of the problems at the club right now into perspective when you learn someone has cancer. "We will be very supportive and be there for Scott throughout his treatment. His attitude sr far has been perfect - spot on." On a brighter note, Haslam said left back Adam Eaton was getting nearer a return to first team action as he looked to put two seasons of injury nightmares behind him. "Adam is coming on well and has a new spring in his step and a smile on his face right now. "We won't rush him but we'd hope to see him back playing before Christmas." -------- Sky Sports Planet Football : Mansfield Town's Scott McNiven has revealed that a biopsy on a testicular tumour has shown that he has cancer. The defender confirmed that he had cancer, but added that he had the 'milder of two forms'. "The news could have been worse but it could have been better," he told Mansfield's official website. "The results show that I had the milder of two forms of cancer so will need to undergo a course of chemotherapy. "I am desperate to get back, I was of course hoping that I would have been given the all clear and that I could get back to work. "I will be visiting a specialist later in the week to see where we go from here." McNiven revealed that Millwall's Neil Harris, who came through a similar situation and continued his career, has been in touch to offer support. Mansfield Town Official Site: Latest News Scott McNiven latest Mansfield town Right Back Scott McNiven today received the results of the biopsy following his operation last week. Scott had been waiting patiently to hear the news that was delivered to him this morning: "The news could have been worse but it could have been better" he explained " the results shown that that I had the milder of two forms of Cancer so will need to undergo a course of chemotherapy. "I am desperate to get back, I was of course hoping that I would have been given the all clear and that I could get back to work. But, I did think that the answer would be one thing or the other, but it is somewhere in the middle. "I will be visiting a specialise later in the week to see where we go from here. I do know that I cannot start the treatment until the wound heals and as you can imagine there is still a lot of pain. This has been a really surreal week for me with what has been happening here and at Field Mill." Talking about the good wishes extending to him he said "the support I have received has been fantastic with everybody wishing me all the best. Keith Curle and John Gannon were first class when I first told them that I had found a tumour and I got a phone call from Neill Harris from Milwall who told me exactly what to expect and offered me an ear to bend. I asked him lot's of questions which he answered truthfully which has given me such a lift" Finally Scott explained at his frustrations trying to play through the ordeal and taking to the pitch against Bury. "I tried to take my mind of it by carrying on playing and when I took to the pitch against Bury it was a very difficult time with the fans not knowing what was going on. I didn't want them to see me with tears in my eyes and think the worse of me but I would like to thank all the fans that have sent their good will to me and I hope to get back to training as soon as possible" ------- All at the SSA wish Scott all the best and a speedy recovery. |
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