Chiefs: S Berry might have lymphoma
Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) – The Kansas City Chiefs placed Eric Berry on the non-football illness list Monday after a mass was discovered on the right side of his chest, leading to fears the safety might have lymphoma.
Berry began feeling discomfort in his chest near the end of Thursday’s game in Oakland, Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said Monday.
Burkholder said an MRI taken Friday revealed the mass in Berry’s chest and the “leading consideration” is that the safety has lymphoma.
Berry will be further evaluated by a lymphoma specialist at Emory University in Atlanta over the next couple of days, Burkholder said.
“Right now it’s not fair for us to put any kind of diagnosis on it,” he said. “Like I said, the leading consideration for this thing is lymphoma, but we don’t have a definitive diagnosis therefore there’s no staging, there’s no (answers to) any of the other questions that come along with lymphoma.”
Berry issued a statement through the team thanking his family, friends, coaches, teammates and Chiefs nation for support.
“At first I was in shock with the diagnosis on Saturday and did not even want to miss a game, but I understand that right now I have to concentrate on a new opponent,” he said.
“I have great confidence in the doctors and the plan they are going to put in place for me to win this fight. I believe that I am in God’s hands and I have great peace in that. I know my coaches and teammates will hold things down here the rest of the season and until I am back running out of the tunnel at Arrowhead.
“I am so thankful and appreciative of being a part of this franchise and playing in front of the best fans in the NFL. I will be back!”
Berry made the Pro Bowl three times in his first four NFL seasons. He has appeared in six games this season.
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