Ex-darts champion Webster reveals cancer diagnosis

Mark Webster played on the BDO and PDC circuits from 2005 to 2019 [Getty Images]

Former world darts champion and broadcaster Mark Webster has been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer.

The 42-year-old, from St Asaph in north Wales, was diagnosed with hairy cell leukaemia in January and has revealed he is having chemotherapy.

"It sounds bad when you say leukaemia but…it's got a good prognosis, 95% of cases are successful," Webster said in an interview on Darts World's YouTube channel.

"I will be put into some sort of remission at some point but just the recovery at the minute is not going to plan in terms of the speed of it."

The 2008 BDO world champion has been absent from television coverage since February but hopes to be back soon.

"In myself I feel fine and I would love to go back to work, but they don't like the environment I work in," added Webster on the advice from his medical team.

"At the minute it's a case of doing as I'm told and being patient. It's frustrating because I like to be busy, but hopefully it won't be too much longer."

Hairy cell leukaemia is a rare type of chronic blood cancer that mostly affects middle-aged adults but most people have normal life expectancy with treatment.

Before his diagnosis the Welsh left-hander said he felt "really fatigued" and "was getting very tired".

A popular figure in the sport, he works as a commentator and analyst on events for both Sky Sports and ITV but had not been seen on screen since Premier League night one in February.

"My white blood counts are still not recovering, so therefore my immune system is not great at the minute, hence why I can't go back to work," he said.

"It's not the worst case sort of scenario, but it's just a bit frustrating for me.

"I can work with people but just in sensible environments. The day-to-day thing is a bit frustrating because I'm used to being busy.

"I've got to trust the people that have been looking after me. They've been really good. I don't always get the answers I want when I go in, but I've got to trust them."