JOSH FACES HIS BIGGEST BATTLE

Cancer scare has changed my life

- Jon Couch

JOSH MCQUOID was doing his routine stretch exercises at home when he noticed something that would go on to change the course of his life.

“I reached round the back of my leg and felt a lump,” the 33-year-old told The NLP. “I showed my partner Misha and she urged me to get it checked out straight away.”

So, unbeknown to his Aldershot Town teammates, the former Northern Ireland international did just that – and the results were quite staggering.

McQuoid was diagnosed with a rare cancer in his leg called sarcoma, which affects the tissues that connect, support and surround other body structures and organs.

No-one was more shocked than he.

“It was difficult to get my head around,” admitted the former AFC Bournemouth, Luton Town and Weymouth midfielder. “I played professional football, felt fit and led a healthy lifestyle. Not only that, I felt fine, so surely it couldn’t be happening to me?”

Thankfully, for McQuoid, Misha’s quick thinking in pushing him to get checked out has proved vital. Recent MRI scan results were positive show the cancer has not spread, meaning McQuoid can now enter into a course of radiotherapy with optimism before he undergoes surgery later on in the summer to get the tumour removed.