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Ex-Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis reveals struggle of telling parents he had cancer which turned apartment into ‘drug den’

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FORMER Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has revealed the struggle he faced telling his parents he had cancer.

Gazidis, 57, was diagnosed with throat cancer in July during a routine check-up.

Ivan Gazidis has revealed his struggle at telling his parents he had been diagnosed with cancerCredit: Rex

Too late to undergo surgery, the ex-Arsenal chief was put on an intensive, eight-week course of daily treatment.

Looking back, he joked the New York apartment that became his base for his highly-specialist treatment looked like a ‘drug den’.

But above all, Gazidis remembers his heartbreak at having to tell his parents of his diagnosis.

Gazidis told The Telegraph: “It’s not easy to tell your parents that you have cancer.

“They are both in their eighties and I have still not been able to see them in person.

“I feel like I’ve learnt a lot. It does make you reflect on what’s important.”

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Gazidis served as Arsenal chief executive between 2009 and 2018, before leaving for AC Milan.

The cancer was only found during his routine check-up due to swelling on his lymph nodes.

Gazidis himself admitted he had absolutely ‘no symptoms’ prior to his diagnosis.

He claimed: “I was lucky. [I had] no symptoms.

“It was in my tonsils but had not spread to the rest of my body.

“I’m sure it is different for different people but I felt no shock.

“It was just, ‘What are my chances? What are the best treatment options? How will I tell my family? What shall I do about work?’”

Now on the mend, Gazidis returned to the San Siro last month for the 3-1 defeat at home to Sassuolo.

In emotional scenes, fans unveiled a banner which read: “Courage and tenacity, Ivan Gazidis a warm welcome home.”

The 50,000-strong crowd also erupted in a chorus of ‘one of us’ to welcome him back to the stadium.

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