Ex-EFL player and Rangers legend Andy Goram has sadly been given just 6 months to live after his terminal cancer diagnosis.
Former goalkeeper Goram, 58, says that doctors have given him about six months to live, as reported by the Daily Record.
He received the knocked back chemotherapy after being warned the treatment would only give him an extra 12 weeks.
Now he has said he’ll put everything he has into battling the disease.
He said: “I’ll fight like I’ve never fought before.”
Goram first started to feel ill seven weeks ago, noticing that he had been struggling to eat and drink and thought he was having heartburn.
He ignored symptoms after failing to get a face-to-face appointment with his GP in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire and it was only when the pain became so unbearable to live with and he noticed how thin he’d become that he called the surgery.
He was told to go to Monklands Hospital for a scan and was then transferred to Wishaw General the morning after and realised his condition was serious when medical staff advised him to ask his family to attend.
Goram said: “I thought I had severe indigestion. It was as though my gullet was blocked. After a few weeks, it got worse and nothing was getting through.
Everything I ate or drank didn’t get halfway to my stomach and I threw it back up.
“I couldn’t get a face-to-face with my GP for two weeks, by which time I was in total agony. I’d also lost 4st in four weeks.”
He added: “I had a CT scan at Monklands, then was rushed to Wishaw General and told my next of kin should be with me.
“That is when the alarm bells started ringing. I realised I had cancer.”
Goram has been diagnosed with Level 4 oesophageal cancer, but it’s since spread to his liver, right lung, three vertebrae and ribs.
The NHS website says that oesophageal cancer is linked to a patient’s lifestyle with symptoms including difficulty swallowing, heartburn and indigestion.
Goram’s son Danny attended his appointment when a doctor broke the news that his condition was terminal.
“The surgeon explained where all the cancer was and it was inoperable. Danny broke down while I was trying to assess the situation.
“The word ‘inoperable’ hit me hard. I knew I was in for a fight.”
The specialist said to Goram that he had about six months to live, or nine if he underwent chemotherapy .
However, he quickly dismissed the treatment option after witnessing how ill it made his ex-wife Miriam, who had cancer last year.
Goram went on: “The specialist said if I take the chemotherapy, I’ve an average of nine months to go – an average.
“If I don’t take the chemo, I have an average of six.
“After seeing what it did to Miriam, my decision was made after chats with her and Danny.
“Take chemotherapy and be in agony for the sake of an extra three months and zero quality of life?
“No thanks. Chemotherapy is off the menu.
“Miriam had six chemotherapy treatments and three radiography sessions. It was hellish.
“Her partner Dale had to carry her up and down the stairs for weeks.
“But she had a goal because now she’s more or less beat it.
“My problem is there was no exit door for me to fight for.”
Goram was told to go to Monklands Hospital on the 21st of April for his scan, then rushed to Wishaw General before being transferred to Hairmyres Hospital where he was an inpatient until the 13th of May, before suffering a setback when readmitted to hospital before being discharged a second time.
The ex-Scotland keeper said: “The pain was off the scale.
“They had to put a stent in my oesophagus to unblock the cancer blockage and help me swallow again.
“The operation was a total success yet the pain was still unbearable.
“I’ve been in bad pain with all my knee operations and a snapped achilles. But this pain was horrendous.
“Now the priority was to get the right mixture and strength of painkillers along with morphine.
“I’ve been given other drugs I’m not attempting to pronounce.
“Getting all these pills hit home just how serious this situation is.
“I need to take my medication religiously or I’m in big trouble.
“I’ve been told by the doc, ‘Go enjoy your everyday life and be as normal as possible’.
“My pain is manageable. I can still go see friends and supporters’ clubs and still be myself.
“I’ll be here as long as I possibly can.
“The only difference is the timebomb ticking away.”
1981–1987 – Oldham Athletic – 195 games (0 goals)
1987–1991 – Hibernian – 138 games (1 goal)
1991–1998 – Rangers – 184 games (0 goals)
1998 – Notts County – 1 game (0 goals)
1998 – Sheffield United – 7 (0 goals)
1998–2001 – Motherwell – 57 games (0 goals)
2001 → Manchester United (loan) – 2 games (0 goals)
2001 – Hamilton Academical – 1 game (0 goals)
2001–2002 – Coventry City – 7 games (0 goals)
2002 – Oldham Athletic – 4 games (0 goals)
2002–2003 – Queen of the South – 19 games (0 goals)
2003–2004 – Elgin City – 5 games (0 goals)
Total – 620 games (1 goal)
National team
1985–1998 – Scotland – 43 games (0 goals)
1986 – Scotland U21 – 1 games (0 goals)
1990 – SFA (SFL centenary) – 1 games (0 goals)
👐 The first EURO ’96 goalkeeper you think of is ________
🏴 Andy Goram 💪
⏪ @ScotlandNT pic.twitter.com/DMLuhM4fHA
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 4, 2020
HONOURS:
Rangers
Scottish Premier Division (5): 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97
Scottish Cup (3): 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96
Scottish League Cup (2): 1992–93, 1996–97
Manchester United
Premier League (1):2000–01
Queen of the South
Scottish Challenge Cup (1): 2002–03
Individual
SFWA Footballer of the Year (1): 1992–93
SPFA Players’ Player of the Year (1): 1992–93
Scottish Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2010
On this day in 1964, Andy Goram was born in Bury, Andy went on to play a vital part in the 9 in a row era and won a total of 11 trophies in his seven years at the club.
“I’m a Rangers man, and in my eyes Rangers men don’t play for Celtic.” pic.twitter.com/7ilx9rkNpu
— Rangers Bible (@RangersBible_) April 13, 2018
Fans reacted with the ex-EFL player and Rangers legend given 6 months to live after his cancer diagnosis…
@legend3: Devastating news to wake up too
@paulsav4: Probably the greatest keeper #oafc ever had, keep fighting Andy 💙
@StuartOgilvie3: Horrid news to hear. Keep fighting Andy, loved by many 💛💛 #thegoalie
@AdamOliver07: Sad to see this
@NJA_McF83: Oldham Athletic and Rangers Legend
@HoraceMac1514: Absolutely gutted to see this news this morning. 💔 Remember one of his first games for Rangers when he let in a goal for Hearts – the shocked look on his face. 😳 Could’ve broken him, but no, he just bounced back stronger 💪 #thegoalie
@JohnmjtJt1919: Awful news, a great goalkeeper
@Reaps11: Football rivalries go out the window when it’s life or death. Absolutely horrible disease 😔😔
@orangina17: Jeez poor fella
@biteyourlegs: That’s really sad. I remember him playing against us for Oldham in the 80s. My thoughts are with Andy and his family
@DSimmie97: Fuck cancer
@CraigBenson76: Jeez! That’s rough.
So sad to hear Andy Goram has been given only 6 months to live. 58 is no age. Regardless of who you support, no one can ever dispute his talent. 💙 #RangersFC #Hibs #OAFC pic.twitter.com/qjMWtCI1Pv
— Jo Bedford 🐾 (@El_Loco_Jo) May 30, 2022
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