Basketball players and cancer

LA Tenorio shocked the Philippine basketball world when he announced that he had undergone surgery for Stage 3 colorectal cancer. Naturally, when people hear the word “cancer,” fear is the first thing that they feel. They are overcome by hopelessness and dread. That is largely a product of lack of information and understanding. Since cancer first became a scourge of humanity, science has advanced tremendously. Illnesses that were once considered your doom like HIV, leukemia and several forms of cancer are no longer the finish line for the person who has any of those illnesses. Magic Johnson, for example, has been living with HIV for a quarter of a century, and is strong and visible to the public.

There have been over 40 NBA players who have contracted different forms of cancer, and a majority survived. Of course, there are several variables, such as the type of cancer, the point when it is diagnosed, the treatment available, and so on. The league’s former all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was diagnosed with leukemia in 2008, and has overcome it and prostate cancer fully. In October of last year, one of the greatest defenders in NBA history, Dikembe Mutombo, was found to have a brain tumor, and is recovering well after getting the care needed. Multiple NBA All-Star and Phoenix Suns legend Paul Westphal has been living with brain cancer since 2020. Nene has likewise had testicular cancer since 2008. Unstoppable WNBA superstar Edna Campbell has survived her own bout with breast cancer.

Outside of basketball, Lance Armstrong famously survived testicular cancer before being swallowed up by his doping scandal. (It’s quite possible that his use of performance-enhancing substances was a contributing factor to his cancer in the first place.) Hockey legend Mario Lemieux likewise survived his battle with the Big C. Athletes from a majority of sports have a well-documented history of battling cancer and winning.

The main factors that determine length of survival are at what stage the disease is caught, how localized it is, and the treatment prescribed. In the US, the overall survival rate for colon cancer ranges from 64 to 91 percent, depending on when it is diagnosed. Even if it has spread to surrounding tissues and organs, the survival rate is still 72 percent. After surgery to remove any tumor, there are still factors to consider. But given that LA is a professional athlete and a young man, he has a stronger chance of living a full, long, meaningful life post-surgery.

One of the good things that has come about from LA’s announcement is the outpouring of love, appreciation and support from all sectors. Messages expressing admiration and prayers for the diminutive guard have come from basketball fans all over the world. The respect for Tenorio as an athlete and a human being is intense. Perhaps this is something that we can all learn, aside from his fearlessness in battling this treacherous illness. It would make everyone better if we tell people around us how much we appreciate them. It’s a load off our minds, and it helps the other person, as well. Everybody wins, as we know LA will. From San Beda High School to Ateneo de Manila University to the Philippine Basketball Association to the national team, he is a proven winner.