Eric Berry Diagnosed With Hodgkin's Lymphoma

((HT: KSHB-TV))

The Kansas City Chiefs made an announcement just before Thanksgiving that star defensive back Eric Berry had discovered a lump in his chest and would be out for the rest of the season.

Here was Chiefs head trainer Rick Burkholder at the time of the announcement
((HT: Kansas City Star))


And coverage from Fox4 in Kansas City that day


We now have a diagnosis of the lump- Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Emory University Hospital in suburban Atlanta released a statement this afternoon:

Doctors at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta have diagnosed Georgia native and Kansas City Chiefs NFL player Eric Berry with Hodgkin lymphoma after completing a medical work-up and thorough testing.

"This is a diagnosis that is very treatable and potentially curable with standard chemotherapy approaches," says Christopher R. Flowers, MD, director of the Emory Lymphoma Program at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute. "The goal of Mr. Berry’s treatment is to cure his lymphoma and we are beginning that treatment now.”

Berry also released a statement on his diagnosis:

“My family and I are very grateful for the amount of support we have received over the last couple of weeks. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate all the words of encouragement, the blessings and well wishes. 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!”

The Chiefs have started selling t-shirts that will benefit the Eric Berry Foundation and they can be purchased on the Chiefs website in the near future as they had only been available at Arrowhead Stadium until now.

Morning Wrap: Chiefs Berry Out With Possible Cancerous Mass in Chest

((ht: kcstar.com))

We wish Kansas City Chiefs Safety Eric Berry the best. And hope what he is dealing with is done and taken care of quickly.

Berry was put on the Chiefs non football illness list Monday evening after complaining to team trainer Rick Burkholder of pain in his chest area.

An MRI, along with a PET scan  found a mass on the right side of his chest which doctors believe may be a lymphoma (an immune system cancer).

Here's video from the Kansas City Star of Burkholder discussing what is happening:



Berry will head home to Fairburn in metro Atlanta area and be examined at Emory University Medical Center, one of the nations leading cancer research centers. Doctors are expected to do a biopsy once Berry is able to get back home.

Having covered Berry back in his days at Creekside High School and interviewing him while he played at the University of Tennessee, we can say that he truly is one of the classiest, well respected kids we ever covered. And we are quite sure that he will conquer this.

The soft-spoken Berry released a statement via the Chiefs website:

“I am truly thankful for all of the support from family, friends, coaches, teammates and the entire Chiefs kingdom. 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. 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!”

We also want to note--if you go to the Chiefs website to read the statement...the 1st comment on the page is from the San Diego Chargers and team owner Dean Spanos. A very well said offer of prayers and respect.

Fox4 Kansas City gives us the TV story: