“Chemotherapy is like doping to me”

class=”sc-3778e872-0 gWjAEa”>

The shock was great when Christoph Daum announced his cancer diagnosis in October. The 69-year-old has now started therapy. Now he talks about the treatment time and why he compares chemotherapy with doping.

Cancer may not be completely curable

First the positive news: the former Bundesliga coach is on the right track. “In the first phase of my therapy, I underwent very intensive chemotherapy until December, which worked very well and eliminated all metastases,” Daum explains to “Welt”.

The disease will likely accompany Daum in the future. “It would be wishful thinking to believe you can beat cancer and say, ‘It’s gone.’ For me, it’s more about being able to say, ‘We’ve got it under control and I can grow old with it.’ Some therapies may be needed.”

Smoking is no longer a problem

It is not the first major obstacle Daum has to overcome in his life. In October 2000, while coaching Bayer Leverkusen, he tested positive for cocaine. His career was at a crossroads. But the cult coach found his way back to football. “People have forgiven me,” he told Blick three years ago about his cocaine scandal.

The lung cancer was discovered during a health checkup over the summer. At that time, the German was still a smoker. But that’s the end. “I smoked until the day I was diagnosed. After 38 years, I quit overnight. This is purely a matter of will. That’s how I am.”

Possible return to football

The chemotherapy has left its mark on the 1991/92 Stuttgart champion coach. In doing so, he lost his hair and often felt exhausted. Nevertheless, Daum does not let this put him off. “I always told the doctors during therapy: ‘Chemotherapy is like doping to me.’ But I also knew that the highly toxic stuff would help me, it would make me stronger – just like doping.”

Despite ongoing treatments, Daum wants to continue playing football. «I want to pass on my experience. I can very well envision consulting activities in the future.” However, his priorities now lie elsewhere. “Now I plan my life around family events. My son is graduating from college in New York this summer. Of course I’m here. Then my daughter will do her international Abitur in London and I will be in England. Those are the things I look forward to.” (mab)

Source : Blick