Just 19 years ago goalkeeper Shaka Hislop was appearing for West Ham United in an FA Cup Final.
However the former Hammer, 56, is now currently participating in a far more serious battle, after he was informed that he is living with prostate cancer.Speaking to his followers on Instagram, Hislop - who enjoyed two spells with West Ham between 1998-2002 and 2005-2006 - confirmed his diagnosis.
"I have a story to tell," he began. "Roughly 18 months ago, I went for my annual physical and insisted on a PSA test, as I always do. This time around though my PSA was elevated.
"An MRI and biopsy quickly determined that I had a fairly aggressive prostate cancer. A year ago, almost to the day, December 6 to be exact, I had a radical prostatectomy. And I thought that was it.
"But then, six months later, my PSA was again on the rise and another scan showed that my prostate cancer had spread to my pelvic bone.
"I started on medication pretty soon after, and just this morning completed seven-and-a-half weeks of radiation therapy. The journey continues."
And Hislop - who is the second former Hammers goalkeeper to be diagnosed with cancer recently, following the revelation that Ludo Miklosko is living with the disease - urged other men of a similar age to ask their GP for a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test, if they haven't already undertaken one - especially those of African or Caribbean descent.
"If you're somewhere like the UK or somewhere else where PSA tests aren't encouraged, you have got to insist," he added.
"Having a history of cancer in the family doesn't matter. I had genetic testing done and it showed no traits in my family, yet this year would show that, without going into too much detail, even that didn't exclude everybody in my immediate family.
"The highest rate of prostate cancer mortality is in Caribbean men, so allow me to speak to my community, my people. Please, go get tested. Know your PSA, track – its history. Prostate cancer is survivable if caught early enough. There are treatments for it. Testing saves lives. It saved mine."
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