Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry might have cancer. The team announced Monday that a mass, possibly lymphoma, had been discovered in the chest of the Pro Bowl safety.
The Chiefs' medical staff found a mass believed to be lymphoma in the chest of Berry, according to the team website. In a press conference on Monday, head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder said Berry reported discomfort in his chest at the end of Thursday's game against the Oakland Raiders. Berry then underwent an MRI on Friday; the MRI revealed a lump in the right side of his chest. He subsequently underwent further testing, which led doctors to believe he has lymphoma.
Burkholder stressed Berry is only 75 percent done with the testing, and there won't be definitive diagnosis until all the tests are completed. The team believes Berry is in "a really good spot right now" and expects "a really good outcome" with the mass in his chest.
Berry currently is in Atlanta for further testing.
He released a statement on Monday through the team website:
"I am truly thankful for all of the support from family, friends, coaches, teammates and the entire Chiefs kingdom. At first I was in shock with the diagnosis on Saturday and did not even want to miss a game, but I understand that right now I have to concentrate on a new opponent. I have great confidence in the doctors and the plan they are going to put in place for me to win this fight. I believe that I am in God's hands and I have great peace in that. I know my coaches and teammates will hold things down here the rest of the season and until I am back running out of the tunnel at Arrowhead. I am so thankful and appreciative of being a part of this franchise and playing in front of the best fans in the NFL. I will be back!"
