Ludek Miklosko: Former West Ham goalkeeper withdraws from cancer treatment
Former West Ham goalkeeper Ludek Miklósko has announced his decision to withdraw from further cancer treatment three years after his diagnosis.
The 63-year-old Czech made nearly 400 appearances during his eight-year career at the club and later returned as goalkeeping coach.
Miklosko, who will travel to the London Stadium for the visit of Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday, said in a statement on West Ham’s website: “At the moment, I feel good.
“A lot of my friends have said to me that if they didn’t know what I was going through, they would think I was fine, which is great for me because I want to feel that way for as long as possible”.
West Ham United said: “The entire West Ham United family are with Luedtke at this time and we encourage everyone attending today’s game to be seated 10 minutes before kick-off to give him the reception and love he deserves. ”
Miklosko helped West Ham advance to promotion in 1991 and 1993, and represented the Ironmen twice in the FA Cup and League Cup semi-finals.
He is currently the sporting director of Banco Ostrava in his native country, where he began his career and made over 200 appearances before joining West Ham United in 1990.
“I’m still working, I can be with the players and the people, my life is very busy at the moment,” Miklosko said.
“I’m trying to keep it that way. I want to be busy, active and involved in as much football as possible because that’s what I love.”
After discussing it with his doctors, Miklosko decided not to undergo chemotherapy.
Three years ago, he underwent surgery to remove a mass found on his hip, but another tumor developed in his stomach. While radiation helped initially, the discovery of several new tumors meant chemotherapy was needed.
There are many different types of chemotherapy used to kill cancer cells, but they can cause a range of side effects, and the effectiveness of each treatment can vary greatly.
“I decided not to have chemotherapy because I wanted to live a normal life,” Miklosko said.
“I’m surrounded by very good people, I have my job and my football and this is my life, all I know. I want to keep doing this for as long as possible.
“When they told me what chemo would mean, about six months of not being able to work or be with co-workers, not being able to travel, being sick and everything else, I said no – I don’t want that.”
