(RxWiki News) Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry has been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Fortunately, his medical team has an optimistic outlook.
"This is a diagnosis that is very treatable and potentially curable with standard chemotherapy approaches," said Christopher Flowers, MD, director of the Emory Lymphoma Program in Atlanta, in a press statement. "The goal of Mr. Berry's treatment is to cure his lymphoma and we are beginning that treatment now."
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of part of the immune system called the lymphatic system. In people with Hodgkin lymphoma, lymphatic system cells grow abnormally and can spread beyond the lymphatic system, explains the Mayo Clinic. As it worsens, this cancer can reduce the body's ability to fight off infection.
Symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma include painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, fatigue, fever and chills, night sweats, unexplained weight loss and increased sensitivity to the effects of alcohol.
Berry, nicknamed "The Fifth Dimension," was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010. On Monday, he released a statement through the Chiefs.
"My family and I are very grateful for the amount of support we have received over the last couple of weeks," Berry said. "I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate all the words of encouragement, the blessings and well wishes."
"I want to thank the Emory University School of Medicine, along with Dr. Flowers and his team, for all of their hard work and effort in diagnosing and creating a plan for me to battle this thing," he said. "I will embrace this process and attack it the same way I do everything else in life. God has more than prepared me for it. For everyone sharing similar struggles, I’m praying for you and keep fighting!"
According to ESPN, Berry reported chest discomfort after the Chiefs game against the Oakland Raiders Nov. 20. He received a preliminary diagnosis of lymphoma after doctors found a mass in his chest. Berry's initial diagnosis was confirmed through further testing at Emory.
