broncofan7
01-29-2009, 04:25 PM
http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/01/29/eagles-defensive-coordinator-has-skin-cancer/
Posted by Aaron Wilson on January 29, 2009, 6:15 p.m. EST
Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is battling a serious melanoma that has metastasized to his spine and created a tumor that is causing him back problems, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
The highly respected assistant coach is being given radiation treatment for his condition, and he will not be traveling to the Pro Bowl to coach the NFC defense. However, the 67-year-old still wants to maintain his coaching responsibilities as much as his health allows.
Johnson cited a “back problem” toward the end of the season and coached from the press box during the Eagles’ final two playoff games. He told a reporter before the NFC title game that he had injured himself swinging a golf club.
A metastasized cancer is regarded as extremely serious, and Eagles team trainer Rick Burkholder revealed that the back tumor isn’t the only part of Johnson’s body that has been afflicted with cancer. After undergoing melanoma surgery in 2001, Johnson had reportedly been cancer-free during his checkups since that point.
“He presented with the back pain the week of the Minnesota game,” Burkholder told Philadelphia reporters. “We got him an MRI right after the Giants game, and the MRI looked funny. We thought he was going to have a disc problem, because of the symptoms, but it actually looked like there was a tumor beside this stress fracture in his spine. That alerted our doctors that something else might be going on. They did further testing, further scans, had him see some other doctors, and it looks like the melanoma is back, in his back. It’s manifested itself in a tumor in his spine.
“He’s already started treatment, radiation treatment. That’s the first course … I think about 4 weeks of radiation, then we’ll take the next step from there. There are some other areas of his body — I’m not going to really get into where stuff is — but that’ll all be treated together. The main deal is his back, right now … that’s what we have to attack. The radiation will calm some of that pain down and let him get back to a little more normal walking.”
When asked if the cancer had spread to Johnson’s brain or spinal fluid, Burkholder said that it hadn’t at this point, adding that Johnson and his wife have remained “upbeat.”
Very Sad story-I am sure that he is seeing the best and brightest oncologists. Best wishes go out to him
Posted by Aaron Wilson on January 29, 2009, 6:15 p.m. EST
Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is battling a serious melanoma that has metastasized to his spine and created a tumor that is causing him back problems, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
The highly respected assistant coach is being given radiation treatment for his condition, and he will not be traveling to the Pro Bowl to coach the NFC defense. However, the 67-year-old still wants to maintain his coaching responsibilities as much as his health allows.
Johnson cited a “back problem” toward the end of the season and coached from the press box during the Eagles’ final two playoff games. He told a reporter before the NFC title game that he had injured himself swinging a golf club.
A metastasized cancer is regarded as extremely serious, and Eagles team trainer Rick Burkholder revealed that the back tumor isn’t the only part of Johnson’s body that has been afflicted with cancer. After undergoing melanoma surgery in 2001, Johnson had reportedly been cancer-free during his checkups since that point.
“He presented with the back pain the week of the Minnesota game,” Burkholder told Philadelphia reporters. “We got him an MRI right after the Giants game, and the MRI looked funny. We thought he was going to have a disc problem, because of the symptoms, but it actually looked like there was a tumor beside this stress fracture in his spine. That alerted our doctors that something else might be going on. They did further testing, further scans, had him see some other doctors, and it looks like the melanoma is back, in his back. It’s manifested itself in a tumor in his spine.
“He’s already started treatment, radiation treatment. That’s the first course … I think about 4 weeks of radiation, then we’ll take the next step from there. There are some other areas of his body — I’m not going to really get into where stuff is — but that’ll all be treated together. The main deal is his back, right now … that’s what we have to attack. The radiation will calm some of that pain down and let him get back to a little more normal walking.”
When asked if the cancer had spread to Johnson’s brain or spinal fluid, Burkholder said that it hadn’t at this point, adding that Johnson and his wife have remained “upbeat.”
Very Sad story-I am sure that he is seeing the best and brightest oncologists. Best wishes go out to him