In 2022, Dutch football legend Louis van Gaal announced he was suffering from prostate cancer. Since then, he has been fighting the disease, and in a recent interview with AS, he shared his current condition and thoughts.
“I’ve actually been dealing with this for over three years. During that time, I’ve undergone chemotherapy, surgeries, and hormone injections, and I’ve had a catheter and urine bag with me constantly. Normally, it’s very tough, but I managed, and I’m still doing it. Even during the last World Cup, I managed to lead the team.”
“During the World Cup, I felt better because I had a work goal. Coping with cancer is like being a coach – you need to find a purpose. For me, those two things merged, and it was very positive.”
“I come from a family of nine brothers, and I’m the youngest. My father passed away when I was 11, at just 53. My first wife also died young, at 39, and all my brothers died prematurely.”
“These experiences have made me understand early on that death is a part of life, and I can face it calmly. When I was initially diagnosed with cancer, I thought, well, that’s not good news, but I’d better try to do something about it. Everyone reacts differently to cancer, but I told myself, keep being yourself!”