The Republic of Ireland's International Football Consultant, Bobby Robson, has been diagnosed with cancer for the fifth time.
The 74-year-old has battled the disease on and off for the last 15 years, having undergone cancer surgery four times.
He told the Mail on Sunday he started a six-week course of chemotherapy treatment last week after doctors discovered small cancerous nodules in his lungs.
Robson has vowed to carry on with his life as normal and will attend his annual charity golf day in Portugal next week before celebrating his 52nd wedding anniversary next month with wife Elsie.
He told the newspaper: 'Of course, it's not the greatest news I've ever had but I have fought hard throughout my life and I will continue to fight. I will battle as I've always done.
'My last operation in August was a success but this time the doctors have said they can't operate.
'The good news is that they are measuring the nodules in my lungs in millimetres rather than centimetres!
'That is encouraging and we are hopeful the treatment will keep it under control.
'I've been advised to keep busy and active, and that's what I will be trying to do whenever possible.'
Robson, the son of a Durham miner, was knighted in 2001 after a glittering football career as a player and manager.
He won 20 England caps, playing in the 1958 and 1962 World Cups, before taking the team to the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup in an eight-year spell as the national manager.
He made his name as a manager at Ipswich, winning the FA Cup in 1978 and the UEFA Cup in 1981.
After leaving the England job in 1990, Robson then managed a string of top European clubs, including PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona.
He was appointed to his Irish post in January 2006.
