Former Liverpool and Leeds United midfielder Dominic Matteo has revealed his recovery from brain cancer.
Dominic Matteo bravely told his story of recovery from a brain tumor and having to relearn basic life skills. The former Liverpool and Leeds United defender underwent surgery in November 2019 after previously suffering from headaches and illness.
Mateo was due to fly to Singapore with the Liverpool legends, but an MRI scan revealed he had a dormant anaplastic ependymoma on his skull since childhood. Mateo, who had 90 to 95 percent of his tumor removed in a 10-hour surgery, received radiation therapy twice a day.
Former Anfield team-mates Robbie Fowler, Steve McManamann and Neil Ruddock kept in touch while Mateo was hospitalized and had to relearn how to speak, read and write.
Mateo, who made 195 appearances for Liverpool between 1993 and 2000, told The Guardian that he has improved dramatically since graduating from the club’s youth academy and that his football experience has stood him in good stead.
Former Scottish footballer: ‘I’ve had brain tumors my whole career. I would have been a better player if I hadn’t had a brain tumour!’”You have to focus on the task at hand: ‘Right Dom, what can I do to improve my lifestyle?’
He did the hard work again and it was like being a young footballer: re-learning this, re-learning that. It was scary, difficult and frustrating. But I think my sport – luckily my sport – helped me overcome that.”
“There is a difference between day and night. I’ve always known that. I never want to get ahead of myself. I can’t afford to be complacent. But yes, I live in the moment and have a good day.”
