Two-time PGA Professional Champion and PGA Cup player Denis Durnian has been diagnosed with cancer.
The 59-year-old European Senior Tour regular, who has survived two heart operations in the last six years, was informed of the news six weeks ago.
"I was diagnosed at the end of December and I've started treatment at the Christie Hospital," said Manchester's most enduring professional.
"I'm just going along with everything they tell me and hoping that everything' will be all right.
"I was looking forward to playing in Brunei next month then Bangkok and South Africa but I'll have to hang on and see what happens. If I get the all-clear I could be back in June," he added.
"But I've not given up playing altogether and I feel as though I'm swinging the club better than I have for a long time, although I know that when you get older the body won't function as it used to do."
He felt no ill-effects when he turned out in the Manchester Alliance at Worsley last week and intends to play in as many fixtures as he can as long as he feels fit enough.
"I take each day as it comes," said the former Northenden professional who will be 60 in June.
During the 1980s, he was a prolific winner and high-profile player within PGA circles, which he combined with success on the European Tour.
Durnian won the PGA Professional Championship in 1982 and 1984 and sandwiched those victories with success in the PGA National Pro-Am Championship with amateur partner Max Brown. He also joined forces with Derrick Cooper in 1984 as the duo shared the inaugural PGA Fourball Championship.
He also featured in four PGA Cup teams, 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1986 winning nine and losing nine of his matches.
At the same time he twice narrowly missed out on Ryder Cup selection before retiring early to open a golf school at Stockport which he later moved to Heaton Park.
But the desire to return to competitive action spurred him to join the senior circuit 10 years ago and he made an immediate impact, in successive seasons finishing second in the Order of Merit after victories in the Wales and Scottish Opens and Estoril Championship.
"Those early years before my heart attack were the best in my career," he reflected.
"I'm disappointed to miss the start of the season because the month away would have done me good," added Durnian who, when not playing, is house dad to his two-year old daughter while his wife Samantha runs a physiotherapy business from their Chorley home.
16 February, 2010