'Fiery Fred' diagnosed with lung cancer, doctors hopeful

London, May 14 (UNI) Legendary fast bowler Fred Trueman has been diagnosed with lung cancer even though doctors are confident that the disease is in its early stage and the former England pacer will make a satisfactory recovery.

The 75-year-old former bowler, first to take 300 Test wickets, returned home yesterday after visiting the Airedale General Hospital, Keighley, in West Yorkshire where he was being treated for tiredness and anaemia and he will undergo 15 weeks of treatment.

Sunday Mirror quotes Trueman's wife Veronica saying, at their home near Skipton, ''Fred being Fred, he will battle this through.

What else could he do?'' ''He's been feeling very ill and doctors found he had chronic anaemia brought about by the cancer. He is going to get through the chemo. He is a fighter.'' Rueman's former Yorkshire team-mate Bob Platt also had the same confidence in his former pace colleague.

''If anyone can fight this Fred can. He is in exceedingly good spirits, and the good news is that the doctors have caught this early.'' Trueman and Brian Statham formed a formidable new-ball pair for England and the Yorkshire bowler played 67 Tests between 1952 and 1965 and scalped 307 wickets and then the ''Fiery Fred'' went on to write an autobiography titled ''Ball of Fire''.

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