SIR ALEX FERGUSON: MY TOUGHEST BATTLE

One in three fans could die from cancer

FERGUSON: Backing KILLING Cancer campaign

By Rob Shepherd, 14/11/2009

SIR ALEX FERGUSON today makes a passionate appeal to Prime Minister Gordon Brown to fund a revolutionary cancer cure.

The Manchester United manager has cast aside his spats with referees, his fights with the FA and his mind games with rival Premier League bosses to fight for the one thing 23 years of unrivalled football success cannot guarantee you... health.

Cancer treatment is a subject close to Fergie's heart.

Both his parents died from lung cancer, he has seen the disease claim the lives of many friends - including former England manager Sir Bobby Robson - and his brother Martin has had prostate cancer.

Fergie worries about the killer disease enough to have himself checked by doctors every 12 months.

And now, backed by a host of celebrities, the most successful football manager in history is demanding cash for the development of radical new cancer treatment Photo Dynamic Therapy.

PDT can kill cancers in a single 20-minute session and without the horrific side-effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

And the 68-year-old Scot admits: "I was looking around Old Trafford the other day, and it dawned on me: 'One in three of these magnificent fans will die from cancer.' The North Stand would be empty.

"Cancer could get me - or you.

"The thought of any cancer fills me with dread: Lung cancer. Stomach. Bladder. Pancreatic.

"What about mouth or throat cancer? I know how much the surgeon would rip out if that was to be my fate. I think any cancer at my age would be a terrible risk to me. That is why I go to the doctor each year for tests to see if there are any early signs of cancer, and if there are, the sooner we can get treatment, the better it is. Getting those early signs improves people's chances of being able to combat cancer. But I've learned that cancer is a part of life that escapes nobody.

"Mum and Dad both died from lung cancer - Dad had colon cancer, too. My brother, Martin, has thankfully recovered from prostate cancer.

"My father got bowel cancer at 47 and had to have a colostomy. One week after he retired, the cancer came back in his lungs and he died a year later, aged 66.

"My mother was a smoker all her life and anyone who does that runs the risk. She got lung cancer and died a year after my father. She was 64.

"I've also had many friends who have died from cancer. It is one of those diseases that everyone prays we will find an answer for."

Cured

Ferguson has built a glittering tower of success during his 23 years at the helm of the world's most famous club: Two European Cups, two FIFA Club World Cups, one UEFA Super Cup, one European Cup Winners' Cup, 11 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups and eight FA Community Shields.

But he wants to build his most successful team ever - better than his 1999 Treble winners; better than his 2008 European Cup and Premier League Double winners.

A team that defeats cancer.

His health squad includes Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce and Rangers manager Walter Smith, snooker stars Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis, 14-times darts world champion Phil Taylor, rock stars Roger Daltrey and Robert Plant and TV legends Sir David Frost and Chris Tarrant. They have all met cancer sufferers who have been CURED with PDT.

The treatment kills cancer cells through a combination of drugs and light, which starves the cancer of oxygen, allowing the body to heal and create new, healthy cells.

And, unlike chemo, there is no chemical poisoning of the body.

Sir Alex added: "I wish that PDT had been available for my parents.

"It could have given my mother and father a chance and a choice of what they went through. We can't change the past, but we can change the future.

"If 1 million Manchester United fans all donated £10, the medics could maybe get PDT approved and in use for pancreatic, throat, breast and lung cancer."

Target

PDT treatment is available in the UK only for skin, head and neck, mouth, lung and oesophageal cancers.

Despite being approved by the NHS, fewer than 300 of the 300,000 patients diagnosed with cancer received it last year.

The KILLING Cancer campaign which Fergie is endorsing has set a target of having PDT treatments approved and available on the NHS for half of all cancer patients within three years.

Sir Alex said: "A number of PDT trials are desperately short of funds. The PDT trial for arterial and heart disease was stopped years ago.

"The work on bladder, stomach, colon and several others has never even started."

FERGUSON: Moving speech at Sir Bobby Robson's funeral

Fergie is making his plea for government and private funding on both the official Manchester United website and the KILLING Cancer homepage.

Health leaflets are to be distributed to every United season ticket holder.

"I think it's fantastic what PDT can do," he says. "I am supporting the KILLING Cancer campaign to raise funds for PDT research and to get more treatment centres set up. We are out to save people's lives. That message has to be stronger. We have to get the message out and recognition of PDT into people's homes - and the messages from people who have had PDT for their cancers.

"We have to get that message out to people in government and the NHS who can do something about it."

Ferguson gave a moving speech at Sir Bobby's memorial service after lung cancer claimed the life of one of football's dearest at the age of 76.

"Anyone who has reached my stage in life has had many experiences of cancer," admits Ferguson.

"Over many years I have spoken to patients with cancer who are having chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

"They have their really bad days and it really brings them down. I think it is the fear of the treatment more than the cancer itself that is their biggest worry and they go through all that pain.

"They go through it because if it saves your life, then it's worth it.

"If there was another way, we must make them aware of it. We must go through with the research and make people aware so they have a choice.

"If they want to go to a doctor who is going to operate, remove their organs to save their lives and then go through with the radiotherapy or the chemotherapy, then it's a choice.

"But if there is another choice that debars all these pains and surgery, we must look at it. This is why PDT must be given a voice and a platform so people can make a choice. It's as simple as that.

"We can make the difference. We can create one of the most successful, winning teams - this one dedicated to defeating cancer. I've made my donation. Please join me."

Sir Alex Ferguson on PDT

For more information, go to www.killingcancer.co.uk.

Your comments

This article has 10 comments

Is PDT already being used? If yes,could you kindly let me have the name of a private clinic where I can send enquiries about the possibility of treatment .
Could I possibly have the address where I can send a contribution.
Many thanks

By John Holland.. Posted November 15 2009 at 10:02 PM.

Many thanks to Sir Alex for the article that appeared in todays News of the World, my brother was the fan that Sir Alex mentioned in the article,unfortunatly he died suddenly in febuary at the age of 45. If David had reseived this treatment he may still be alive today. It is an horrific statistic that one in three United fans may develop cancer or may know someone who suffers from the desease. The fight against cancer is fought on many fronts and it is essential that funds are p

By Diane Bennett.. Posted November 15 2009 at 8:19 PM.

it is good that he said something he is well respected and he is a great manager

By SIKHGUY.. Posted November 15 2009 at 8:34 PM.

It makes a change not hear Ferguson whinging about refs, but that's only because there weren't any league games this weekend.

Recently I had my Prostate removed to get rid of cancer, and I'm still trying to get rid of the Treatment side effects. So I have first hand experience.

If Ferguson is seeking sympathy he should donate the money (or more which wouldn't hurt him) he saved from the recent FA decision, instead of suggesting his own club football fans donate.
He could cover that without noticing it, instead of hard working fans donating.

By John Barry.. Posted November 15 2009 at 4:50 PM.

Love you to bits Sir Alex!!DAD

By brian.. Posted November 15 2009 at 3:15 PM.

Instead of 1 million united fans donating £10 each, when they get fleeced enough by the club, why doesn't Fergie get 100 footballers, managers & his horse racing buddies to donate just £100,000 of all their hard earned money to the cause. Surely this would be a much quicker easier process!!!!!!

By swalker.. Posted November 15 2009 at 11:29 AM.

To quote Sir Alex, we already have the "answer". It is prevention.

It's no secret that lung cancer is mainly caused by smoking. Bowel cancer is largely down to eating too much processed food and not enough fibre, ie fruit and vegetables.

So the answer is don't wait to get cancer and then look to cure it - prevent it by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

By the way, cancer is a great money maker for the drugs companies. Why would they ever come up with a "cure" when they make billions from treating its symptoms.

By Wesdag.. Posted November 15 2009 at 9:40 AM.

The KILLING Cancer charity is thrilled to have the support of Sir Alex and the whole team at Manchester United. And also the support of the News of the World. Sir Alex and the Club have already donated to the cause, and on behalf of cancer patients everywhere - I hope you will feel able to support this campaign with a few pounds or more. You can donate via our website. Thank you, so very much. This campaign is investing in your future and the future of your children and friends. David Longman, Director.

By David Longman.. Posted November 15 2009 at 12:19 AM.

GOD SAVE US ALL FROM THIS EVIL AND DEADLY DISEASE OR INFIRMITY IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN!!!

By KOFINHO.. Posted November 15 2009 at 12:34 AM.

Great cause Sir Alex, thank you for showing a great example by highlighting this issue. Thank you Rob as well for reporting a story that really matters not just focusing on Fergie moaning about a ref!!!

By Rory.. Posted November 15 2009 at 12:41 AM.

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