Chiefs’ Eric Berry Is Armed With Faith in His Battle With Lymphoma

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Three-time Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry has been diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma, a form of cancer, after doctors for the Emory Lymphoma Program at the Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta conducted a medical work-up and thorough tests on him during the past two weeks.

The diagnosis is what members of the Chiefs organization, including trainer Rick Burkholder, anticipated when Berry was examined by team physicians following his complaint of chest discomfort after a Thursday night game at Oakland versus the Raiders on November 20.  Berry was  placed on the non-football injury list (NFI), ending his 2014 campaign.

The director of the Emory Lymphoma Program, Christopher R. Flowers, MD, said in a statement the diagnosis is “very treatable” and “potentially curable with standard chemotherapy approaches.”

“The goal of Mr. Berry’s treatment is to cure his lymphoma and we are beginning that treatment now,” said Flowers.

Berry expressed in a statement that he and his family are “very grateful” for the “support” they have received over the last two weeks.

“I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate all the words of encouragement, the blessings and well wishes,” said Berry. “I want to thank the Emory University School of Medicine, along with Dr. Flowers and his team, for all of their hard work and effort in diagnosing and creating a plan for me to battle this thing. I will embrace this process and attack it the same way I do everything else in life. God has more than prepared me for it. For everyone sharing similar struggles, I’m praying for you and keep fighting!”

Teammates, fellow players and coaches, and people that cover the league have shown support for Berry, with Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston, who is tied for the league-lead in sacks with 16, honoring Berry after a sack of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton by lifting his jersey to show his undershirt with the number “29″ written, the 25 year-old safety’s number, and praying for his ill teammate.

Berry’s teammates have used his diagnosis as an opportunity to helps others afflicted with the disease, as they designed shirts with the caption “Be Bold Be Brave Be Berry”, with Berry’s jersey number on the back. The shirts are now available for sale online in limited quantities for $20 at shop.kcchiefs.com, with 100% of the proceeds received by the Chiefs and the NFL going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). We certainly hope that Berry is able to recover and return to the football field, and that others in situations similar to Berry, as he said, “keep fighting” and get healthy as well.

About the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

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