Sebastien Haller Recounts How Cancer Diagnosis Made His Kids Panic

Borussia Dortmund forward Sebastien Haller has recounted how his kids got worried following his cancer diagnosis.

The 28-year-old Ivory Coast international described the heart-wrenching experience as "complicated" while speaking in a recent interview on how his condition impacted his three children.

Haller had pulled out of training after feeling unwell on July 18, 2022, two weeks after joining Dortmund from West Ham.

Within 24 hours, a testicular tumour was diagnosed and the doctors counselled that immediate treatment should be carried out.

As such, the Ivorian had treatment which involved chemotherapy and surgery to remove the testicular tumour.

He won the personal battle with the ailment and was prompted to return to training last month ahead of his Dortmund debut as a second-half substitute against Augsburg on January 22.

Haller scored his first goal for his new club against Freiburg on February 4, a day marked World Cancer Day globally.

Addressing BBC Sport about the impact of his cancer diagnosis before the Champions League last-16 first-leg clash with Chelsea, the Dortmund forward said his kids felt uncomfortable when they saw his face changing.

"For them, it was really complicated. They saw me changing - just my face. 

"This was the most difficult part to handle. You feel more stressed and more worried. 

"It makes you more careful about what we are saying and how we act between each other."

 

 

 

 

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The father of three expressed that having children made him act strong despite not being in a good place emotionally.

"The pictures on social media reflect myself quite well. If I was alone, just with my wife, it would probably be different. 

"But as soon as you have kids, you don't have time to think bad because they need you. 

"No matter what has happened, you need to show them everything is fine."

The former West Ham and Ajax player bemoaned the suffering of his family, saying: "Of course, you have some bad moments but I don't think that was the lowest part.

"Even if emotionally it wasn't easy because I was sick, all the attention was turned to me not to other people, not to people from my family who suffer as well. 

"No one cares about them, which is a big problem."

It is expected that Haller will be in the lineup when Dortmund hosts the Blues tonight.

The club's sporting director Sebastian Kehl on Monday described him as “a piece of the puzzle" that they've unfortunately been missing for a long time. 

“A fit Sebastien Haller not only enriches our team with his profile but also with his personality.  

“We have waited longingly for him, he has been working towards this for a long time… we’re happy that he’s back, and so is he.”