UNDATED: New Zealand cricket great Martin Crowe has responded to his cancer relapse saying his ”friend and tough taskmaster Lymphoma is back”, leaving him with ”more work to do”.
Crowe, who will turn 52 next Monday, first learned he was suffering from lymphoma in late 2012, but looked to have held it at bay after a rigorous course of chemotherapy.
However, after suffering back pains, he visited his doctor recently and tests revealed the cancer had returned.
“You never beat lymphoma,” he said, “but I was hopeful that after the first episode I might be clear for a few years; I felt very well.”
“I will now have to have further treatment.”
Writing on Twitter on Wednesday, Crowe said: “To say you cant beat lymphoma is not quite true, many have. Yet follicular lymphoma is incurable, & can be treated & tamed for many long yrs (sic).”
”After a brilliant year of self discovery and recovery I have more work to do. My friend & tough taskmaster Lymphoma is back to teach me,” Crowe wrote.
“I say Lymphoma as a ‘friend’ coz it delivered me a message to remove the past for good in 2012, which I have. It’s returned as the taskmaster.”
Earlier, Crowe said he was prepared to meet the challenge.
”I feel much wiser and better equipped to deal with the situation than I was last time.
“I’ll get stuck into the treatment again with the same resolve and positivity.”
Crowe, widely regarded as the best batsman to have represented New Zealand, played 77 test matches and 143 one-day internationals between 1982 and 1995.
In 1991, Crowe set the New Zealand record of most runs in a single test innings with a 299 scored at the Basin Reserve against Sri Lanka. The record stood until this year when Brendon McCullum surpassed the mark, scoring 302, also in Wellington. (Agencies)
