Andy Goram: Rangers icon and former Man United loanee given six months to live with terminal cancer
Rangers legend and former Man United goalkeeper Andy Goram, 58, is given just six months to live with terminal cancer, but turns down chemotherapy because it will only extend his life by three months
Rangers icon Andy Goram has been diagnosed with oesophagaeal cancerDoctors told the 58-year-old he may only have six months to live without chemoThe former Scotland goalkeeper originally mistook the disease for indigestionHe vowed to ‘fight like I’ve never fought before’ although ‘chemo is off the menu’
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Rangers legend Andy Goram has been given just six months to live after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The 58-year-old reportedly turned down chemotherapy after being told it would only give him another 12 weeks, and said he would ‘fight like I’ve never fought before’.
Goram initially mistook his illness for bad indigestion, but after a scan at Monklands Hospital he was told he had level four oesophageal cancer.
The former goalkeeper played 184 times for Rangers, winning five league titles and three Scottish cups. He was a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson, who gave the keeper his first of 43 Scotland caps in 1985 and signed him on loan at Manchester United in 2000.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Goram said: ‘I thought I had severe indigestion. It was as though my gullet was blocked. After a few weeks, it got worse and nothing was getting through.
‘Everything I ate or drank didn’t get halfway to my stomach and I threw it back up. I couldn’t get a face-to-face with my GP for two weeks, by which time I was in total agony. I’d also lost four stone in four weeks.’
Andy Goram won five league titles and three Scottish Cups during his time at Rangers
The 58-year-old, pictured speaking at an event recently, initially thought he had bad indigestion after experiencing heart burn but was diagnosed with terminal cancer
Rangers icon Goram won 43 caps in goal for Scotland in a 13-year international career
‘I had a CT scan at Monklands, then was rushed to Wishaw General and told my next of kin should be with me. That is when the alarm bells started ringing. I realised I had cancer.’
He continued: ‘The surgeon explained where all the cancer was and it was inoperable. I knew I was in for a fight. If I don’t take the chemo, I have an average of six months.’
‘Take chemotherapy and be in agony for the sake of an extra three months and zero quality of life? No thanks. Chemotherapy is off the menu.
‘They had to put a stent in my oesophagus to unblock the cancer blockage and help me swallow again. The operation was a total success yet the pain was still unbearable.’
Goram is now looking to make the remainder of his life as bearable as possible. He said: ‘Now the priority is to get the right mixture and strength of painkillers along with morphine.
‘I’ve been given other drugs I’m not attempting to pronounce. Getting all these pills hit home just how serious this situation is. I need to take my medication religiously or I’m in big trouble.’
‘My pain is manageable. I can still go see friends and supporters’ clubs and still be myself.
‘I’ll be here as long as I possibly can. I’ll fight like I’ve never fought before. The only difference is the timebomb ticking away.’
Fans were quick to wish legendary goalkeeper Goram well on social media after news of his diagnosis broke late on Sunday evening.
Rangers blog @4ladshadadream wrote on Twitter: ‘Really sad news this morning. Andy Goram without doubt a Rangers legend, Wishing Andy and his family all the love and strength in his fight against the illness.’
‘Absolutely gutted to read the news about Andy Goram, not old enough to see him in action myself but my god what a legend of our club. All the best the goalie,’ wrote Gers supporter @18SGBA72.
Another fan, @ScottM1983_RFC, posted a picture of Goram celebrating for Rangers with the message: ‘Such sad news to read tonight about Andy Goram – an absolute legend for us. Horrible disease but I’ve no doubt he will put up a fight against it. All the best Andy.’
The ex-goalkeeper, pictured in November 2021, has turned down chemotherapy because it would only give him an extra three months
Goram began his professional career at Oldham after coming through the ranks at West Brom before he was released as a teenager.
He made almost 200 league appearance for the Latics after joining the club in 1981, earning himself a £325,000 move to Scottish side Hibernian six years later.
After impressing during four seasons with Hibs, Rangers paid £1million to sign Goram in 1991 and he went on to become both their No 1 and a fans’ favourite.
He picked up a total of 10 trophies during his time at Ibrox and was named the Scottish Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year for 1992-93.
Goram had brief spells at Notts County and Sheffield United after leaving Rangers in 1998 before returning to Scotland for three seasons with Motherwell.
It was during this spell that he went on loan to Manchester United, making two league appearances after the Red Devils were left short of senior goalkeepers.
Goram went on to play for Hamilton Academical, Coventry, Oldham, Queen of the South and Elgin before hanging up his gloves in 2004 after a 23-year career.
