What type of cancer did Sol Bamba have? Understanding the ex-Leeds United and Cardiff City defender’s cause of death
SOL Bamba, the star footballer who played for Cardiff City and Leeds United, has sadly passed away.
But what type of cancer did the football legend have? Here’s everything you need to know.
What type of cancer did Sol Bamba have?
Sol battled with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, a disease that 13,000 people are diagnosed with a year in the UK.
The exact cause of the disease is unknown, but it is more common in people who have surpressed immune systems.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma can be diagnosed with a biopsy.
There are two types of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: high-grade lymphoma (where the cancer grows quickly) and low-grade (where the cancer grows more slowly).
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the most common treatments, but most forms of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma are considered to be treatable.
When was Sol Bamba diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
Sol announced that he had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2021 and that he was undergoing treatment.
In May 2021, just four months after he made the announcement, he told fans that he was now cancer free.
However, the cancer later returned and he tragically passed away.
What has Sol Bamba’s wife said about his death?
Sol met his wife Chloe while playing for Leicester and the couple had three children together.
When Sol sadly died, she said:
“For the last few years I have watched Sol fight his cancer head on with an astounding mental and physical strength and stoicism.
“Unfortunately, it was never a fair fight and just when things were looking up he took a downturn and finally succumbed on 31st August.
“These years have been indescribably difficult but we still managed to find joy and laughter in it.
“I’ve experienced my worst days but also some of my best.
“Sol accepted his fate as God’s will and left this earth knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that he was loved wholeheartedly. I made sure of that.
“It was an honour to have loved and been loved by Sol. I learnt so much from him. He is my hero. My heart is breaking.
“What a gift, what a gift, what a gift to have been loved by him.”
Who did Sol Bamba play for?
Sol played for some of the top football clubs in the world.
He began his career with Paris Saint-Germain, at the age of 11.
As his career progressed, he moved to the Scottish team Dunfermline Athletic and later Hibernian.
Sol became a household name though when he joined Leicester City in 2011.
His time with the club was short though and he moved to the Turkish team Trabzonspor in 2012.
Then, after a brief stint with Palermo, he moved to Leeds United where he quickly rose the rank of captain.
After this, he joined Cardiff City and later Middlesborough.
What are the signs of lymphoma?
LYMPHOMA is a term for cancer that starts in the lymph system - a network of vessels and glands that spans your body.
There are two main kinds of lymphoma – Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Lymphoma can cause many different symptoms, depending on which type of lymphoma it is and where it develops in the body.
The most typical signs are:
- Swollen lymph nodes, such as in the neck, armpit or groin area
- Night sweats
- Extreme tiredness
- Itching
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever
- Excessive bleeding, such as nosebleeds, heavy periods and spots of blood under the skin
Other signs of lymphoma in a more localised area include:
- Swelling of the stomach, loss of appetite and other abdominal symptoms
- Coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain