Football legend Emlyn Hughes has vowed to fight the brain tumour doctors discovered after he collapsed at his home.
The former England and Liverpool captain had emergency surgery last month after being taken ill at his house in Sheffield.
Hughes captained England 23 times
The bulk of the tumour was removed and he now faces a course of radiotherapy, starting on Wednesday.
Hughes, 55, who was born at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, said he was unsure what the future held but vowed to battle the illness.
He said: "I will fight this. At the moment the doctors cannot say what will happen in the future, but they are doing their best.
"It all came as a massive shock and my family have really supported me and kept me going.
"There is no point in being down about the situation and I will keep on being happy and trying to get better."
Father-of-two Hughes spent a week in hospital following the operation at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.
He praised the treatment he received and said: "Whatever NHS staff are paid should be increased ten times over.
"I am in good hands and they have told me to try to live my life as normally as possible."
Hughes said he intends to keep enjoying life to the full but added: "I know I am ill and have to watch what I do and I do take the doctors' advice.
"It is nice to be out and about and everyone just wants to know how I'm feeling, which is great."
Hughes started his football career at Barrow-in-Furness and later made 650 appearances for Liverpool.
During his career he won 62 England caps, captained his country 23 times and won two European Cups and five league championships.
He was named Footballer of the Year in 1977.
The former England and Liverpool captain had emergency surgery last month after being taken ill at his house in Sheffield.
Hughes captained England 23 times
The bulk of the tumour was removed and he now faces a course of radiotherapy, starting on Wednesday.
Hughes, 55, who was born at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, said he was unsure what the future held but vowed to battle the illness.
He said: "I will fight this. At the moment the doctors cannot say what will happen in the future, but they are doing their best.
"It all came as a massive shock and my family have really supported me and kept me going.
"There is no point in being down about the situation and I will keep on being happy and trying to get better."
Father-of-two Hughes spent a week in hospital following the operation at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.
He praised the treatment he received and said: "Whatever NHS staff are paid should be increased ten times over.
"I am in good hands and they have told me to try to live my life as normally as possible."
Hughes said he intends to keep enjoying life to the full but added: "I know I am ill and have to watch what I do and I do take the doctors' advice.
"It is nice to be out and about and everyone just wants to know how I'm feeling, which is great."
Hughes started his football career at Barrow-in-Furness and later made 650 appearances for Liverpool.
During his career he won 62 England caps, captained his country 23 times and won two European Cups and five league championships.
He was named Footballer of the Year in 1977.
