Eight days after a mass was first discovered in his chest, Chiefs safety Eric Berry confirmed via the Kansas City Chiefs that he has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Berry is 25 years-old.
“I will embrace this process and attack it the same way I do everything else in life,” Berry said in a statement released by the team Monday. “God has more than prepared me for it. For everyone sharing similar struggles, I’m praying for you and keep fighting!”
In that same statement Berry’s physician, Dr. Christopher Flowers, was optimistic about Berry’s chance at recovery.
“This is a diagnosis that is very treatable and potentially curable with standard chemotherapy approaches,” Flowers said. “The goal of Mr. Berry’s treatment is to cure his lymphoma and we are beginning that treatment now.”
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that originates from lymphocytes, also known as white blood cells. It spreads from the body’s lymph groups, developing systematic symptoms. Hockey great Mario Lemieux was diagnosed with the disease in January of 1993. Lemieux missed two months, only later to set a Pittsburgh Penguins franchise record for points (119) and lead his team to an NHL playoff victory over New York Islanders.
Over his first three seasons, Berry played all but one game for the Chiefs at safety and six games this season. The former University of Tennessee star has scored three touchdowns as a pro, 5.5 sacks, eight interceptions and averages over five tackles a game.
Berry is being treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Ga., nearby his hometown of Fairburn
“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,” the statement read. “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.”
Six-year pro Ron Parker has started at strong safety for the Chiefs in Berry’s stead at strong safety, picking off one pass, defending nine passes and recording 80 tackles.
