Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Jim Kelly is set to have surgery for jaw cancer.
According to a statement from Kelly posted to the Buffalo Bills website, he was recently diagnosed with squamous-cell carcinoma. The cancer is isolated to his upper jaw bone, which he will have partially removed on June 7. Kelly stated that doctors believe his prognosis is “very good.” Kelly’s statement, in full:
“This past couple of weeks has been difficult for me and because of the nature of social media I thought it would be best to share with everyone what has been going on with my health. I was recently diagnosed with Squamous-cell carcinoma (cancer) of the upper jaw bone. I have undergone tests which have shown that the cancer is isolated to my upper jaw and has not spread to other parts of my body. Surgery is scheduled for June 7th and doctors have told me that the prognosis for my recovery is very good.
“With the excellent medical care that I will be receiving and the loving care of my wife Jill and my daughters Erin and Camryn and the support of my entire family and friends, I am extremely confident in my road to recovery. I plan to tackle this challenge head on, as we Kelly’s always do, with toughness, perseverance and faith.
“I want to thank everyone who has offered their prayers and would appreciate any prayers said for me and my family moving forward. May God continue to bless you and our family.”
Kelly is best-known as the Buffalo Bills’ quarterback during the late 80s and early 90s. He led the team to four consecutive AFC championships from 90 to 93, and was selected for the Pro Bowl four times. Kelly holds numerous NFL and Bills team records, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.