Colorado’s Chad Bettis Reveals Battle with Testicular Cancer

Chad Bettis has faced some tough opposition during his time pitching for the Colorado Rockies. However, no battle has been like the one Bettis has faced in the last month.

In a statement to ESPN, Bettis revealed that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery in late November. He is confident he will be ready for spring training and that the cancer “was isolated and has not spread.”

“I was completely caught off guard by my diagnosis, but have subsequently found that the vast majority of cases occur in men 20 to 40 years of age, and that the survival rate is 99 percent when contained and caught early,” Bettis conveyed in the statement. “This only reinforces my belief that each of us needs to be totally in tune with our own physical health, and that taking action sooner than later when we feel like something is off can sometimes literally be the difference between life and death.

“My understanding is that I will be physically ready to have a normal spring training, and I greatly look forward to the upcoming season.”

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According to the American Cancer Society, testicular cancer is not common. About one of every 263 males will develop testicular cancer at some point during his life. About 8,720 new cases of testicular cancer will be diagnosed in 2016 and about 380 men will die from the disease.

Bettis is being counted upon by the Rockies to continue the strong way he finished the 2016 season. The 27-year-old right-hander went 3-1 with a 3.03 ERA in September to cap off a season that saw him post a 14-8 record and throw the most innings (186) of any Colorado starter.

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He started September in amazing fashion, pitching a two-hitter in a 6-0 win over the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field for his first career complete game win and shutout. One person even used that game as encouragement for Bettis heading into the rest of the offseason.