Tolga Kalender, a 25-year-old footballer who played for Turkish second-tier side Bandırmaspor, has died in hospital in Adana in the early hours of Wednesday after his eye cancer spread to his lungs.
His wife, Çiğdem Kalender, announced the news on social media. She explained: “He was diagnosed with cancer approximately nine months ago. During this process, the illness, which initially began in his eye, unfortunately spread to other organs over time.”
Wife's tribute
Çiğdem added: “My beloved husband Tolga, who left a beautiful mark on everyone whose life he touched, will always be remembered with love and longing. We will always do our best to keep his memory alive.”
Tolga’s cousin, Levent Kalender, said: “He was receiving treatment. He had improved at the beginning of the summer, but the cancer had progressed to his lungs.”
Career and clubs
Tolga, originally from Mersin, began his senior career at Beykoz Anadolu Spor in 2017. He went on to play for Başakşehir FK, Adana Demirspor, Bayrampaşa Spor, Diyarbekir Spor and Bandırmaspor.
Mainly a centre-back, he made 25 appearances and scored once for Adana Demirspor in Turkey’s top-flight Süper Lig during the 2024/25 season. He scored three other goals – twice in the fourth-tier 3. Lig Group 2 and once in the Türkiye Kupası.
Title win and tribute
Tolga also won the Turkish second-tier title with Adana Demirspor during the 2020/21 season. Bayrampaşa Spor, the club he made the most appearances for, paid tribute to the former defender. The club wrote: “May he rest in peace, and may his place be in paradise.”
In adults, one of the most common primary cancers to develop inside the eye is intraocular melanoma, also known as ocular melanoma. It is a rare cancer that can develop in the iris, ciliary body or choroid. Symptoms can include blurred vision, vision loss, flashes of light, floaters, a growing dark spot in the eye and changes to the pupil. Some malignant eye tumours can spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, most commonly affecting the liver, although they can also spread to the lungs, bones and other organs.
