Jesse Williams Diagnosed with Papillary Type 2 Cancer
By Clay Shumate
Former Alabama and current Seattle Seahawk defensive tackle Jesse Williams has been diagnosed with Papillary Type 2 cancer. It was first revealed in a tweet by the official Seattle Seahawks account:
DT Jesse Williams (@ThaMonstar) will undergo kidney surgery after being diagnosed with Papillary Type 2 cancer: http://t.co/YNJkgCpl8q
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) May 18, 2015
The Seahawks are being incredibly supportive as noted in their string of tweets by their Executive VP/GM John Schneider:
Executive VP/GM John Schneider: "Jesse is an extraordinarily tough individual who has overcome a great deal in his life… "
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) May 18, 2015
Executive VP/GM John Schneider (cont.): "...and we will support him in any way possible. He is in our thoughts and prayers.”
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) May 18, 2015
The Jesse Williams we all became fond of during his time at Alabama released a short statement as well. Like he was at Alabama and has been thus far in Seattle, he is a fighter.
Williams: “Although disappointing, I am a fighter and will handle this. I am going to focus on my health and fighting this battle with…"
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) May 18, 2015
Williams (cont.): "...a return to football as my ultimate goal. Thank you for your thoughts and support. Go Hawks!”
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) May 18, 2015
What is Papillary Type 2 Kidney cancer?
It is known in the medical world as Papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) and is a cancer that forms inside the lining of the kidney’s tubules (the very small tubes that do the filtering). Commonly referred to as “renal cell cancer,” PRCC is the second most common type of kidney cancer.
The average age of someone being diagnosed with kidney cancer is 64, with most cases occurring in people 55 and older. There are between 3,500 to 5,000 new cases of PRCC diagnosed in the United States each year.
Jesse’s cases in extremely unique as he is only 25, nearly 30 years younger than the average age of the cases diagnosed in the United States each year. There are 4 stages to this cancer.
- Stage 1: The tumor is smaller than a tennis ball and cells are found outside the kidneys.
- Stage 2: The tumor has grown larger than a tennis ball, but no cells have travelled outside the kidneys.
- Stage 3: The tumor can be any size, but cells are found in a lymph node, or it has spread to nearby organs.
- Stage 4: The tumor has spread to several lymph nodes or has travelled to the lungs, liver, or other organs.
PRCC can be treated five different ways: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biologic therapy, and/or targeted therapy. Treatment depends on the individual and the stage.
Survival rates are often determined by the stage of cancer at the time of your diagnosis. For those with PRCC diagnosed in stage 1, the odds of surviving five years or longer are better than 80 percent. In more advanced stages, survival rates decline. By the time PRCC reaches stage 4, the five-year survival rate drops to eight percent. (Source: Healthline.com)
Show Your Support
Jesse Williams is a beast on the field, but a gentle soul once is outside the lines. He represents Australia, The University of Alabama, and the Seattle Seahawks in a genuinely great fashion. We all know Tha Monstar can win any battle on the field – but it is time for him to beat the biggest battle of his life. Show your support by wishing him well through social media and use this tragic diagnosis to push for research and funding.
Roll Tide, Jesse. We’re cheering you on as always.