Lester has been diagnosed with what the family called a treatable form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a rare cancer accounting for 1 percent to 2 percent of all lymphomas, or cancers of the lymph nodes, which are part of the disease-fighting network spread throughout the body. The cause is unknown.
The cancer can be fast-growing, but it's often curable, said Dr. Robert Soiffer, chief of the division of blood cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. ``It's responsive to chemotherapy and it is hopefully curable with chemotherapy," he said.
Lester's family did not indicate the stage of his cancer, including how many lymph nodes show signs of disease, which would influence his chances of recovery. ``Being young is in his favor," Soiffer said.
Soiffer said patients usually take a combination of chemotherapy drugs every few weeks for four to six months. It's unlikely Lester could work out during this period, as chemotherapy can have severe side effects, including nausea. ``When you're an elite athlete, any treatment on your body is going to take its toll," Soiffer said. ``I certainly hope when he completed chemotherapy he would be able to return to a normal lifestyle, including pitching."
Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell was diagnosed seven years ago with testicular cancer during a routine physical in spring training while with the Florida Marlins. He did not undergo a regimen of chemotherapy -- he underwent radiation treatment instead -- and was able to resume playing a little more than three months later. While his cancer cannot be compared with Lester's, Lowell said, he has some sense of what lies ahead for his teammate.
``I think it's a time where he's going to want to be with his family and not have too many distractions," Lowell said.
``The best thing is the doctor's diagnosis, that it's something treatable and curable. Take it for what it's worth, get well, and worry about baseball later.
``For me, I didn't have time to soak it in. It all happened in like two days. You're scared. It's a normal feeling, but I think the fact that it's something he can recover from fully is very positive."
