The ACC’s defensive player of the year, Sandon Mark Herzlich, Jr., revealed officially on Thursday that the battle he is leading right not is not the field as fans would love to hear, but with a terrible disease. Mark has been diagnosed with cancer, the Boston College linebacker suffers from Ewing’s Sarcoma – see below.
Mark Herzlich
Herzlich was a finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker, last season. In his activity with the Eagles, Mark Herzlich can boast with 110 tackles, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The type of cancer Mark is suffering from is Ewing sarcoma is a malignant round-cell tumor. It is a rare disease in which cancer cells are found in the bone or in soft tissue. The most common areas in which it occurs are the pelvis, the femur, the humerus, and the ribs. This is a rare-found type of cancer, to quote a scientific source on this matter:
The frequency in the United States depends on the patient’s age, with a rate of 0.3 case per 1,000,000 children in those younger than 3 years of age to as high as 4.6 cases per 1,000,000 in adolescents aged 15-19 years. Internationally the annual incidence rate averages less than 2 cases per 1,000,000 children ( Iwamoto Y (February 2007). “Diagnosis and treatment of Ewing sarcoma“. Jpn. J. Clin.)
Ewing's Sarcoma
Needless to say, fans who already heard the ill news have voiced their concern, along with best wishes for the Boston College linebacker.
A quote from the the 14th, when he made his statement:
” Obviously, I was shocked. I had been extremely focused on preparing for my senior season at Boston College and for life beyond that. Now, I must channel all that energy into facing my toughest opponent yet, and that is exactly what I will do…At this point, I do not know what this means for my football future, but I am determined to rid my body of this disease so that I can put that uniform back on. Thank you in advance for your prayers and concern. Together, we will fight this and win ”
Mark, a real champ
In 2008 Herzlich was also a First-team All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Along with family, friends and football fans all over the states, who wish him the beast of health and hope he finds the strength to stay a defender even against cancer.
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