Doesn't sound good for Fiery Fred

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="629" border="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><div class="mxb"><div class="sh">England great Trueman has cancer </div></div></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="416"><font size="2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="203" align="right" border="0"><tbody><tr><td><div> <div class="cap">Trueman earned the nickname Fiery Fred because of his fast bowling</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Former England and Yorkshire fast bowler Fred Trueman is being treated for cancer.

The 75-year-old is suffering from a condition called small cell carcinoma and has spent time in Airedale Hospital, in west Yorkshire. </p>

Trueman, who became the first cricketer in history to take 300 Test wickets, will now undergo 15 weeks of treatment. </p>

His former Yorkshire team-mate Bob Platt said: &quot;If anyone can fight this Fred can.&quot; </p>

He added: &quot;He is in exceedingly good spirits, and the good news is that the doctors have caught this early.&quot; </p>

Trueman's career spanned 20 years from 1949 to 1969 and he played 67 Tests between 1952 and 1965. </p>

He was famed for his new-ball partnership for England with Lancashire's Brian Statham. </p>

He was also Yorkshire's pace spearhead during his native county's dominance of English cricket through the 1960s. </p>

Trueman was an expert analyst on BBC Test Match Special for 26 years until 2000. </p></font></td></tr></tbody></table></p><span class="header-A">small cell lung cancer</span>

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="571" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"> </td><td valign="top">An aggressive (fast-growing) cancer that usually forms in tissues of the lung and spreads to other parts of the body. The cancer cells look small and oval-shaped when looked at under a microscope. Also called oat cell cancer.</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

I hope he pulls through. As I'm told constantly - it's amazing what they can do these days. His strength of mind will take him a long way. Saw Paul Hunter being interviewed the other day and he didn't seem to be coping too well. I wish him all the best too. A wife and new baby - so much to live for and look forward to. When I get down I can at least console myself that I've had a good marriage for 28 years, and seen my son grow into a man who we are both immensely proud of. On October the 18th it's the 10th anniversary of my confirmed diagnosis. So even though things might look bad now, hopefully they both get well and are able to get through their personal nightmares. Best wishes to anyone who is going through this, or is having to watch the effect on a loved one.

 

"His former Yorkshire team-mate Bob Platt said: "If anyone can fight this Fred can." "

so Bob Platt's not just an ex-cricketer but an Oncologist with years of experience of treating those with cancer? blimey, i bow to you Mr Platt(hatsoff)