Jim Kelly Is Cancer Free
By Mike Dyce
Jim Kelly was diagnosed with jaw cancer earlier this year. But the former Buffalo Bills quarterback remained adamant that he’d fight cancer. The Hall of Fame quarterback had surgery to remove the cancer earlier this month and has been now given the all clear by doctors and will avoid chemotherapy for now.
“I found out great news on Wednesday,” Kelly said Monday at the opening of his 26th annual Jim Kelly Football Camp, via BuffaloBills.com. “I don’t have to go through radiation treatment and chemo, which is a blessing. From what I’ve been told everything that they did in surgery, if I had to do radiation or chemo it would put me way back.”
Jim Kelly is relieved to avoid chemotherapy and credited prayers for helping him. He expressed appreciation for the letters people sent to reach out to him.
“Big time relief,” he said. “Trust me, prayers definitely have a big part in it. I’ve received so many letters and emails from people that have had similar circumstances as I did and some of them were not very good and some of them were very good. You’re encouraged on one hand and discouraged on the other. To find out where they’ve been and the prognosis of where I’m going I’m very excited. I’m happy.
“I never thought I’d be saying cancer. I never though the ‘C’ word would become part of my vocabulary. But it is what has happened to me and the ups and downs of my life. I’m already on the way back up.”
And despite the immediate pain, Kelly is remaining optimistic about the future.
“The worst part about my cancer is it’s right here in the area of my mouth,” said Kelly. “They had to remove most of my jaw on my left side. It’s very, very sore, but it takes time. I know when you have knee surgery or shoulder surgery it’s sore for a small period of time and rehab and everything is good and you just take your time. This is just constant pain for now, but it’s a small price to pay for where I’ll be later on down the road.”