Jim Kelly Cancer Update: Football Legend Now Cancer Free, Doctor Says
Jim Kelly is cancer free.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback just got the results of an evaluation that found his recurrence of throat cancer has been eradicated.
“The treatments so far have completely eliminated Mr. Kelly’s pain and his level of function has essentially returned to normal,” Dr. Peter Costantino said in a media release. “Further, on physical examination, there is no evidence of the cancer.”
The 54-year-old former Buffalo Bills great was initially diagnosed with sinus cancer last year. He underwent surgery that included having part of his jaw removed, and at the time was declared cancer free. But earlier this year the cancer returned, and doctors gave Jim Kelly a grim prognosis.
That made Wednesday’s announcement even more surprising. Jim Kelly and his wife Jill had called on the community to pray for the legendary quarterback, and the Western New York community rallied in support of him.
Now doctors said Kelly’s treatment may be finished entirely.
“It is possible that no further treatment will be required, and the testing over the next week will define this issue,” Constantino said in the release.
Even during his treatment, Jim Kelly has remained active with the franchise. After the March death of the team’s only owner, Ralph Wilson, Kelly has been meeting with potential investors and trying to put together a bid to purchase the Buffalo Bills. Though he did not submit a bid in the initial round of bidding, Kelly has reportedly been meeting with other potential ownership teams hoping to join in with them.
The Jim Kelly cancer update is the first bit of good news for Buffalo Bills fans in what has been a difficult offseason. There was only a matter of days between the announcement that Kelly’s cancer had come back and Wilson’s death. The team also endured the loss of linebacker Kiko Alonso to an ACL injury and the uncertainty that a new owner could look to move the team away from Buffalo.
Jim Kelly reportedly has a follow-up appointment later in the week that will determine any further cancer treatment might be needed.
