Friday, August 4, 2000
Updated: August 8, 7:51 PM ET
Doctors find 'no distant spread' of cancer
ESPN.com news services
NEW YORK -- Yankees outfielder Darryl Strawberry remained in
stable condition at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center on Tuesday
following surgery to remove a tumor.
Strawberry talked to friends Tuesday and said he was in good
spirits.
On Monday, doctors removed an "isolated tumor mass" near
Strawberry's left kidney, saying in a statement that "evaluation
... supported the preoperative impression that there was no obvious
distant spread of cancer," and "no evidence of any residual
disease."
The surgery was performed at Columbia Presbyterian Medical
Center of New York-Presbyterian Hospital by a team that included
Drs. Mitchell C. Benson, George J. Todd, Richard L. Whelan and
Peter B. Schiff.
Strawberry previously underwent surgery for colon cancer in
October 1998 after he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer
that had spread to one lymph node. Last January, Strawberry
said a test indicated his colon was cancer-free
Yankees manager Joe Torre, who underwent cancer surgery last
year, said Monday he would wait to talk to Strawberry until the player
lets him know that he is feeling better.
"This helps you appreciate what you have today and not look too
far down the road," Torre said of the mindset going into surgery.
"You just want to enjoy every day here. For certain when you have
a young child, that monopolizes your thinking."
Strawberry, 38, was suspended in February for testing positive for
drugs and had hoped to have his suspension reduced and rejoin the
New York Yankees this season. But then his cancer returned and an
investigation began last month to see if he had violated his
probation.
"He's made a lot of mistakes in his life and maybe he is paying
for it right now," Yankees reliever Jeff Nelson said. "I hope he
does well, his family does well. This is a tough time for everyone."
Strawberry forfeited his major league salary when he was
suspended for one year in February for violating baseball's drug
policy.
Citing economic problems, Strawberry left the Sobriety Clinic in
Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after only 3½ months, saying he needed to support his wife and children.
Strawberry was ordered to meet with Hillsborough County parole
officials last month after a Florida newspaper reported that
Strawberry had been frequenting a strip club. Strawberry said
he was there briefly to attend a bachelor party but denied
consuming alcohol. Sports Illustrated published a photograph of
him and a topless woman at Trapeze II, a Fort Lauderdale
swingers club.
