SAITAMA (Kyodo) Omiya Ardija defender Taishi Tsukamoto has undergone bone cancer surgery on his right thigh, the club said Friday.
Tsukamoto, who revealed last month he has cancer, had his cancerous bone removed and replaced with an artificial joint in a five-hour operation at a Tokyo hospital last Wednesday.
"I am battling with pain from the surgery right now," said Tsukamoto through the club. "I want to take it day by day, step by step."
Tsukamoto was found to have the cancer in January after experiencing pain around his right knee since last summer.
He joined Omiya in 2008 and made 27 appearances in the last two seasons.