Former Mets pitcher and current baseball broadcaster Ron Darling announced this week that he is battling thyroid cancer. The announcement came after Darling took several weeks off from his TV job to have a mass removed from his chest, and have some tests run. It was during this procedure that doctors discovered the cancer, according to a statement from Darling. But the sports personality remains hopeful that he will be back to talking baseball in just a few short weeks.
“My doctors have said they are optimistic that the cancer is treatable and that I would be back on air talking baseball in the next month or so,” the statement said. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for their continued support.”
Read MoreAn obvious question, because the thyroid is part of the throat, and because Darling was a baseball player in the 1980s, is if something like chewing tobacco may have played a role in this diagnosis. It’s common knowledge that smokeless tobacco was quite common among baseball players for decades. However, in the American Cancer Society’s warnings about the products, thyroid cancer is not listed as a risk. Smokeless tobacco is, however, linked to a whole host of other health issues and several other cancers — such as mouth, tongue, cheek, gum, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers.
The truth is science hasn’t told us yet what actually causes thyroid cancer. But lucky for Darling, and for Mets fans everywhere, science has provided us with some incredibly effective treatment options. Surgery is the most common option for those facing thyroid cancer, and radiation may be used to take out any cancer cells left over after an operation. Chemotherapy is also an option, and researchers are even testing immunotherapy as well. Darling hasn’t said yet what type of treatment he will be receiving over the next month — but like many cancer survivors, he’s already planning his return to work.
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