Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly has been diagnosed with cancer of the upper jaw. The 53-year-old announced on Monday through the Bills website that he has Squamous-cell carcinoma, but that it fortunately has not spread to other parts of his body.
“This past couple of weeks has been difficult for me and because of the nature of social media I thought it would be best to share with everyone what has been going on with my health,” Kelly said. “I was recently diagnosed with Squamous-cell carcinoma (cancer) of the upper jaw bone. I have undergone tests which have shown that the cancer is isolated to my upper jaw and has not spread to other parts of my body. Surgery is scheduled for June 7th and doctors have told me that the prognosis for my recovery is very good.”
It’s always frightening to hear that someone has cancer, but the fact that doctors are optimistic about his recovery should certainly provide some relief. Kelly told Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News that he was alarmed by the news but is ready to fight through it.
“When you hear the word cancer, it scares the crap out of you,” Kelly said from the site of his annual charity golf tournament. “It not only scared me, but it scared my family. But it’s just another river to cross, another stumbling block.
“I’ve been to the top many, many times, and I’ve been to the bottom and it’s one of those rollercoaster rides I’ve been on throughout my life, and it’s just another challenge for me. I know I’ll beat it.”
They say a person’s mental state is much of the battle when trying to beat cancer, so we’re happy to hear Kelly feels he is prepared for the challenge. Here’s hoping he has a full and speedy recovery.
