Two-time world snooker championship finalist Ali Carter has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

The 34-year-old English player suffers from Crohn's disease and recovered from testicular cancer last year to resume his career.

World Snooker says in a statement released Saturday that Carter, who has won three ranking titles, "will be facing an intensive course of chemotherapy" over the next few months.

World Snooker chairman Jason Ferguson says "Ali is the toughest competitor I know and having spoken to him over the last few days I can assure everyone he has the fight to get through the battle ahead."

Carter lost world finals in 2008 and '12, both times to Ronnie O'Sullivan.