Chad Bettis Opens Up About His Cancer Battle and Future

Romans 8:18 reads, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” It’s a Bible verse that Chad Bettis of the Colorado Rockies has clung to in the days since he first learned he had testicular cancer.

It’s been a whirlwind for Bettis since his November diagnosis and surgery. On Monday at the Coors Brewery in Golden, Bettis talked often about his faith and his future. It was a raw, open conversation which reminded us again that the athletes we cover and watch on a daily basis are, in fact, humans with families and a life away from the diamond.

“It’s been overwhelming,” Bettis said of the support he has received since the news of his ordeal went public in mid-December. “With the support and love and prayers from everybody, it’s been second to none. I lean very heavily on my friends, family and wife. To know that my teammates and other individuals who have gone through something like this wanted to let me know that I was in their prayers was overwhelming.”

He talks about faith. He talks about his family. He reflects back on Romans 8:18.

“I don’t know why but it stuck with me for a very long time, even before this happened. I feel like it’s true. It’s something I could lean back on and think this verse was meant for me,” Bettis said with the same focused belief in his eye as he has had when up 0-2 on a batter at Coors Field.

The conversation was certainly in part about baseball on Monday afternoon, but Bettis was also there to talk about what he’s been through. The 27-year-old is a cancer survivor.

“Broken” is how Bettis describes the conversation he had with this wife and family about the cancer discovery. His eyes tear up at the thought of it.

“It was tough. You start talking to people about it and you never want to tell somebody that. It was really hard for me to tell my parents. They want what’s best for their kid. That was tough, but we got through it and we’re stronger for it.”

Bettis remembers exactly his first thought when the doctor told him he had cancer.

“’What?’ That was the first reaction,” Bettis said. “You don’t view it as, ‘This is me.’ You take it like, ‘You messed up on the results.’ You don’t believe that it’s really happening to you. It took a while to soak in. Once it finally did, it was, ‘What’s next?’ and let’s begin the process. What’s the best way to go about this and how fast can we do it so we can get back to being healthy? At that point, baseball goes to the backburner. Your livelihood is at stake. It was nice that we caught it early. You have to be aware with what’s going on with your body.”