Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivor and Former NFL Star Andre Hal Says He Started Having Pain Recently; Cancer Survivors Must Be Vigilant

Hal was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2018 after experiencing blurry vision, and beat the disease in 2019. Hodgkin lymphoma was found in both his armpit and abdomen. After conquering the disease, he has gone on to build a career in real estate, earn an MBA at the University of Houston and write a forthcoming book, The Transition Mindset: How Retiring From the NFL at the Peak of My Career Changed My Life. 

In a recent interview with The Houston Chronicle, Hal recalls an incident when he couldn’t move his legs, and he thought his cancer had returned. "It was scary weird," he says. "It was like I had a stroke or something."

Thankfully, his cancer hadn’t returned, but the doctor discovered inflammation of the blood vessels near Hal's brain. He diagnosed the former football player with a rare condition called central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis.

Dr. Hayder Saeed specializes in treating blood cancer at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., and says of inflammation in cancer patients, “We worry about that chronic inflammation in the human body a lot of those which are related to autoimmunity. Such as for example a patient who has Lupus or patients who have rheumatoid arthritis or patients who have other autoimmune conditions. We found out that because of this autoimmunity and persistent inflammation in the human cells some of them would undergo mutations.”

For pain experienced after beating cancer, it could also mean the return of cancer, so that should be ruled out as well, via screening methods. “The priority is to make sure [the pain] isn’t lymphoma itself, that the cancer isn’t back,” says Dr. Saeed.

“A lot of times when I have somebody with persistent inflammation after treatment it makes me think more of if this was there before but undisclosed,” he says.

Understanding Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, a part of the immune system that helps fight infections and disease. The typical treatment path for Hodgkin lymphoma can include chemotherapy, radiation, and in rare cases stem-cell transplant. Hal treated his cancer with targeted drug therapy, Rituxan.

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Approximately 8,830 new cases of Hodgkin lymphoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Hal is not the only NFL player to face this disease in recent years. James Conner, a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2015.

This disease occurs in children and adults, but it’s more common in early adulthood when a person is in their 20s. The average age of diagnosis, according to the ACS, is 39. Thanks to advancements in treatment, survival rates for this disease have improved in the past few decades.

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Being an Advocate for Your Health

Our experts encourage people like Hal to be their own best health advocates. Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai, says in an earlier interview, “It’s important to know that while we have guidelines– OK– guidelines, especially in this country are meant to take care and do the right thing for the largest number of people, but it’s also with the littlest use of resources.”

“You have to be in tune with your body.”

“And that’s the truth,” says Dr. Murrell. “The truth is you have to be in tune with your body, and you realize that you are not the statistic. You are not necessarily going to fit into– well, I don’t have to have a colonoscopy yet because I’m not 50, even though my bowel habits have changed, even though I’m having a lot of blood when I have a bowel movement.”

“That’s why it’s important for you to actually educate yourself and be your own health care advocate. And that’s something that I think is really important. You should lead each doctor’s appointment with a plan,” says Dr. Murrell.

Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate… Don't Settle

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