Ex-Arsenal star overcame cancer after feeling a lump in shower after training

02 November 2023 , 09:30

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Henri Lansbury has revealed he had testicular cancer while playing for Nottingham Forest (Image: Getty Images)

Former Arsenal youngster Henri Lansbury has revealed he overcame testicular cancer while playing for Nottingham Forest back in 2016.

Lansbury came through the ranks at the Gunners and spent time out on loan at Scunthorpe, Watford, Norwich and West Ham, before sealing a move to Forest in 2012. After a slow start, Lansbury established himself as a first-team regular at The City Ground and had been linked with a move back to the Premier League at the end of his second season, after scoring seven times in 30 appearances.

The midfielder continued to be tipped with a move away but decided to stay put until Aston Villa signed him for a reported fee of around £3million in January 2017. However, less than a year prior to that move, Lansbury had testicular cancer after being diagnosed in the summer of 2016.

"I was in the shower after training one day, I was having a feel and it was a lump," Lansbury told Sky Sports. "It was a pea-size lump and over time I thought it would go away. A couple of months past and it was still there.

"I think we broke up for the summer, about to go on holiday but it was eating me up for a few months. I had it and didn't tell anyone and trying to deal with it myself. It came to a point where I thought I needed to see someone to help me out.

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"First of all, I went down to the local hospital to see if I could get it checked out. They said the lead time was a few weeks and I didn't want to go away with it, so I had to phone the club and ask for help.

"They put me in contact with someone to get it checked out. I had a scan there, they said they'd give me my results back in a bit and as I left to get in my car, the doctor at Nottingham Forest has called me to say, 'can you pack your bag, you're going back in for your operation tonight'."

Lansbury came through the ranks at Arsenal

Lansbury struggled to reach his full potential at Aston Villa, though he did help the club return to the Premier League after beating Derby in the Championship play-off final in 2019. The 33-year-old, however, departed Villa to join Bristol City in January 2021 upon the termination of his contract.

After a short spell at Ashton Gate, Lansbury's next move was to Luton and he shone for the Hatters as they reached the Championship play-offs during the 2021/22 season. He made a further 10 appearances last season as Luton earned promotion to the top-flight for the first time in over 30 years.

However, Lansbury confirmed his retirement from professional football at the age of 32 in August. He played a total of 375 matches during his career, scoring 51 goals.

Kieran King