Captain of La Liga side Las Palmas, Kirian Rodriguez, has been ruled out for the rest of the season following a cancer relapse which is affecting his immune system.
28-year-old Rodriguez has played in 21 of Las Palmas’ 22 games in La Liga this season, having previously spent almost a year on the sidelines to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma after he was diagnosed with it in 2022.
“Yesterday I was informed that I have relapsed with cancer,” Rodriguez said. “I will have to stop playing again and go through another round of chemotherapy to fight the disease. I hope to see them all again in 2025/26.”
During his first bout with the cancer, Rodriguez underwent six chemotherapy sessions in November 2022 and got an all-clear from doctors in January 2023, leading to his return to action in April 2023.
According to the National Health Service of the United Kingdom, Hodgkin lymphoma is a relatively aggressive cancer and can quickly spread through the body. Despite this, it’s also one of the most easily treated types of cancer.
The NHS further states that recommended treatment plan depends on the person’s general health and age, because many of the treatments can put a tremendous strain on the body.