Professional golfer and three-time major winner Padraig Harrington revealed today that he has undergone treatment for skin cancer. The 42-year-old Harrington, who lost his father, Patrick in 2005 to cancer of the esophagus, said he was speaking up about his fight against the disease to raise awareness and encourage people to have their own issues treated.
Harrington told British radio station Today FM: “I’ve had a number of skin cancers removed off my face. When you get a symptom don’t ignore it. Do something about it.”
Golfer Padraig Harrington Speaks Out About Dealing With Skin Cancer
Harrington withdrew from the 2005 British Open at St Andrews after the death of his father on the eve of the tournament. He has started a charity, the Oesophageal Cancer Fund Ireland to help raise money to treat the disease and search for a cure.
“Everybody responds differently to treatment and ways of treating cancer are moving on,” Harrington said. “I see that when I travel the world. It is easier to clear these things up at the start rather than waiting until there is a problem. You can get treated and go on to live a much longer life.
“My father had symptoms but didn’t do anything about it. It’s the nature of men in Ireland and certainly older men. I would be much more inclined to go and do something about it. If I get a pain I go and get it checked out. It’s a little bit of hardship but you will feel much better afterwards.”
We at LWOS support Padraig’s words, and wish him the best of health going forward.
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