Hull City: Angus MacDonald on his cancer, recovery & return to football

[!meD]

 

"I switched off completely. My whole body went numb. I don't remember anything after the word 'cancer'."

In August 2019, Hull City defender Angus MacDonald was preparing to resume his career after recovering from a dislocated shoulder and deep vein thrombosis just months apart.

But he was about to face a very different "nightmare".

The centre-back had not long been back in training and was "not far off being involved with the team", but his progress was being hampered by an inflamed bowel.

Within a few days of testing, the phone rang and everything changed.
"I had been dealing with colitis and the specialists were investigating because my fitness levels wouldn't improve until the inflammation calmed down," the 27-year-old told BBC Sport.

A scan showed abnormal cell growth, and a biopsy was taken from his large bowel.

"I got the call three or four days after, and the doctor said he needed to see me urgently," he said.

"I knew something was not right."

MacDonald was diagnosed with bowel cancer on Friday, 23 August.

"It was a real shock," he said.

"I was 26 and coming to the peak of my career. You never expect it to happen to you, especially being so young and otherwise fit and healthy.

"I don't remember how I drove the car back home. It was like a daydream, and not a very nice one - more of a nightmare."

He had been planning a birthday surprise for his partner, The X Factor winner and musical theatre star Alexandra Burke, that evening. Sticking to his original plan, he initially decided to keep his diagnosis private.

"Alex was touring in Plymouth so I packed a bag, picked up the dog and jumped in the car," he said.

"She called me on the journey to say she hadn't heard from me much, and I just said I was fine because I didn't want to ruin her weekend.

"The first person I told was one of my best friends. It was a very emotional phone call - I don't think I've ever cried to my friends before. I couldn't get my words out.

"I had the weekend with Alex and she knew something wasn't right. On the Saturday night, I broke down and told her the news.

"I would rather have just dealt with it alone and I didn't want to upset anyone but she was reassuring. I don't know what I would have done without her support."

Edited April 12, 2020 by -Dark
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