Well, Nene's Tumor was malignant after all. However, reports are saying that it did not spread and his odds to recover are nearly 100%.
http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/10592709
DENVER -- A testicular tumor removed from Denver Nuggets forward Nene was malignant.
The team said Tuesday the tumor was discovered early, and tests showed the cancer was isolated.
"The recovery rate is extremely high," the Nuggets said in a written statement. "In addition, the odds of a recurrence are very small."
The Brazilian player underwent surgery Jan. 14 to remove the tumor. The team said he was doing well, but there was no timetable for his return.
Nene's website had posted a statement last week saying the tumor was benign, but that announcement later was removed.
The Brazilian news magazine, Epoca, reported on its website the tumor was small and was completely removed in surgery, citing Nene's Brazilian urologist Dr. Fernando Kim. Examinations of his blood, lungs, pelvis and abdomen showed there was no other tumor in his body.
"There is no sign the disease has spread," Kim told the magazine, adding the player was recovering "physically and psychologically extremely well."
Nene's right testicle was removed, and the early diagnosis made it "close to 100 percent" sure that the treatment was successful, Epoca said. He added Nene would be sidelined at least until March, because two months was the minimum for recovery.
Nene took an indefinite leave of absence from the team on Jan. 11.
Nuggets coach George Karl has experienced a couple of health scares over the past few years. He was treated for prostate cancer in 2005; his son, Coby, was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma, a form of treatable cancer, in January 2006 and had his thyroid removed three months later. Last April, Coby, who's now a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, underwent more surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes.
Nene, who is averaging 6.4 points and 6.4 rebounds, missed 22 games earlier this season after undergoing surgery on his left thumb. He was out for all but one game of the 2005-06 season after tearing a knee ligament.
AP NEWS
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Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
Nuggets head coach George Karl wants Nene to make an appearance for the team.
http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/10594985
DENVER -- Denver Nuggets coach George Karl is hoping to entice Nene to attend an upcoming practice.
Karl thinks it would be therapeutic for the Brazilian forward to hang out with his NBA teammates.
Nene found out on Tuesday that a testicular tumor removed on Jan. 14 was malignant. The team said the tumor was discovered early, and tests showed the cancer was isolated.
"I want him to come back and be with the team, and understand basketball is a little bit family," Karl said on Wednesday. "So many of us stay in basketball because of the spirit of basketball, and the spirit of friendship is stronger and deeper ... and loving. We want to share that with him."
The team said there's no timetable yet for his return, but Karl has a suspicion Nene will return this season.
"My feeling is he knows that we love him and need him," Karl said. "I think he knows we can be a damn good basketball team. As soon as he's healthy, we'll step over that bridge."
The Nuggets suspected the news would come back that the tumor was malignant, based on the information they were receiving. The team was bracing for it, even after Nene's website posted a statement last week saying the tumor was benign. But that announcement later was removed.
"Cancer is scary," Karl said. "It's a fear. It's an emotion you don't deal with a lot. Now, you wake up with it and think about it."
The team has had to deal with cancer quite a bit in recent years. Karl was treated for prostate cancer in 2005; his son, Coby, was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma, a form of treatable cancer, in January 2006 and had his thyroid removed three months later. Last April, Coby, who's now a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, underwent more surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes.
"We're pretty much familiar with the situation at hand," said Marcus Camby, who considers Nene one of his closest friends on the team. "It's tough. We've dealt with it with George, we dealt with it with Coby. So, you have to be there for support. That's all we can really do from afar."
Camby said he's spoken with Nene and that his spirits are high.
"I wanted to let him know that as a friend and as a brother, he definitely has my support," Camby said. "We love him, we're praying for him and want to see him. We hope he gets better. We're not really worried about basketball at this point, we just want him to worry about his life. When he's ready to come back, we'll definitely welcome him back with open arms."
The Brazilian news magazine, Epoca, recently reported on its website the tumor was small and was completely removed in surgery, citing Nene's Brazilian urologist Dr. Fernando Kim.
"There is no sign the disease has spread," Kim told the magazine.
Nene's right testicle was removed, and the early diagnosis made it "close to 100 percent" sure that the treatment was successful, Epoca said.
That was welcome news to Karl.
"The more you understand it, the more you comprehend that if you do the right things, you're going to be fine," Karl said. "He got it early, it's a slow-moving cancer and I heard the possibilities of close to 100 percent chance of survival, and living a clean and healthy life."
Karl has yet to speak to Nene over the phone, preferring his first conversation with him to be in person. That's why he's hoping to lure him to a practice.
"We're going to figure it out," Karl said. "Whatever we need to do to help him, we'll do."
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
All in all, there was good news today. Hearing that the tumor was malignant is difficult. It's more scary (at least to me) than when the benign report was pulled from Nene's website. Still, the doctors wouldn't tell us that it hasn't spread unless it really hasn't. Likewise, they wouldn't tell us that Nene has a close to 100% chance of recovering only to get everyone's hopes up. At least that's what I'd like to think. Sometimes the truth seems very fuzzy to a fan who is being spoonfed all the news by the media outlets. Whatever the situation is, the only thing I want to see is a healthy and stable recovery for Nene. Please feel well soon, amigo. Everyone wants to see you back on the court, but please don't put a game ahead of your wellbeing. Get healthy first. Basketball will always be waiting for you.
On a less-important-yet-happy note, the Nuggets won 107-100 over the Atlanta Hawks tonight. Carmelo Anthony was out with a sprained ankle. Allen Iverson led all scorers with 29 points. MARCUS CAMBY IS A REBOUND MACHINE!! He had 21 boards tonight along with 13 points. Nice job, Nuggs. Next up is the New Jersey Nets on Friday.
http://www.sportsline.com/nba/gamecenter/recap/NBA_20080123_ATL@DEN
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