Legendary NFL wide receiver and Hall of Famer Randy Moss shared personal news Friday about his ongoing battle with cancer. The former football star opened up to his fans on Instagram Live about facing a serious health challenge but said he has come out successful after surgery.
A stalwart on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown since 2016, Moss took time to express appreciation and encouragement to his followers. “I am a cancer survivor. Some trying times, of course, but, you know, we made it through. And for that, I thank you all,” Moss said, providing a message of hope and resilience.
Challenging Health Journey And Surgery
The 46-year-old footballer explained that he had stayed in the hospital for six days and was discharged this Friday. In his session of Instagram Live, he shared further information about how he found himself in his health condition, describing what the whole situation was to him.
He said the doctors were operating on something else regarding a medical case of his liver when, upon inspecting his area, they found cancer cells near his bile duct, connecting the pancreas and his liver.
Moss had the Whipple procedure, a six-hour surgery performed in Charlotte earlier this week. This is a very complex surgery usually done for the treatment of pancreatic cancer; it removes parts of the pancreas, bile duct, and small intestine. The risks associated with such a procedure are significant, but Moss said that the surgery was successful.
However, Moss acknowledged that his journey was far from over, revealing that he would still need to undergo chemotherapy and radiation. “Yes, it’s going to be a tough road with some chemo and radiation, but like I said, man, I’m good,” he affirmed, maintaining an optimistic outlook.
Supporting Cancer Research
Throughout the livestream, Moss showed his resilience and the passion for giving back. The T-shirt he wore read “Team Moss” with a lavender cancer ribbon on it and symbolized the fight against cancer. Moss also had on display cancer awareness merchandise one could buy, most of which would go to research efforts. Some of the products in the collection sported the slogan “Let’s Moss Cancer,” a nice twist on the football term whose name he bears.
Moss professed commitment to using his platform as a means to support awareness and research in cancer. “I want to be able to be a help, you know, to be a voice,” he said, indicating the power of advocacy when one’s health is in such personal battle.
Earlier in the week, ESPN had announced that Moss will step away from his work on Sunday NFL Countdown until further notice due to health concerns. He confirmed that here on his Instagram Live about what led him to the point of being in the present state. He said the start was a stent in the liver that occurred around Thanksgiving, which evolved to detect cancer cells.
Despite these health challenges, Moss remained upbeat, expressing his desire to return to his role at ESPN. He concluded his livestream by stating that his primary goal is to recover and return to his professional commitments. “My goal is to get back to ESPN and shout out all of my Sunday NFL Countdown family,” he said.
Expressing Gratitude To Supporters
Throughout his health journey, Moss has been profoundly touched by the outpouring of support from friends, family, former teammates, and fans. During the livestream, he took some time to thank his doctors and loved ones for their prayers and well-wishes. “I really felt that. My family felt that,” Moss said, acknowledging the impact of the positive messages he had received.
Moss also encouraged other people to take care of their health and to go for check-ups, especially Black men, who he emphasized should stay on top of their health through regular blood work and doctor visits. He urged viewers to “check your ego at the door” and to value health over everything else.
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