Sheedy given all clear after cancer surgery

Former Everton midfielder Kevin Sheedy has been given the all clear following bowel cancer surgery.( PA PhotosKevin Sheedy) • Sheedy diagnosed with cancer Sheedy, a part of the club's 1985 and 1987 title-winning sides, revealed in August that he was battling cancer. The 52-year-old, an academy coach at Everton, is recovering following an operation, and subsequent tests have
shown that he will not need further treatment. Sheedy, who lost his mother to bowel cancer two years ago, said his life had been saved by early detection of the
disease. He told Everton's website: "I will need regular checks to monitor my recovery. My symptoms were blood in my
stools and a change in my bowel habits because I was always on the toilet. "My mother died of bowel cancer two years ago and my father is in remission after a successful operation seven
years ago." The former Republic of Ireland international, who also played for Hereford, Liverpool, Newcastle and Blackpool, said
that catching the cancer early had been vital to treating it successfully. "I would strongly urge anybody who has concerns to go immediately to their GP," he added. "My life has been saved
through early detection and I am told that over 90% who are diagnosed at the earliest stage are successfully treated. "Don't be embarrassed to go otherwise you could die of that embarrassment. I would like to say a massive thank
you to everybody who sent me messages of support, which I got from all over the world. "It was very touching and really helped me to deal with my situation knowing that so many people were rooting for
me."