The type of cancer that's afflicted Pitt running back James Conner mainly occurs in young adults in their 20s and early 30s, according to the star player's doctor.

Dr. Stanley Marks, deputy director of clinical services for UPMC CancerCenter/University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, said Conner was diagnosed with nodular sclerosis, which is the most common form of Hodgkin lymphoma, a malignancy of the lymphatic systems. About 10,000 cases of Hodgkin lymphoma occur each year.

Symptoms include night sweats, fever, weight loss, chest pain, swelling of lymph nodes and general itchiness.

Conner will undergo six months of intravenous chemotherapy treatments, in which he'll be infused with four types of drugs every two weeks. He has Stage IIA Hodgkin lymphoma, which has a cure rate of between 85 and 95 percent.

“This is certainly one of the most curable types of cancers and one of the first cancers to be cured when we discovered how to cure cancers,” Marks said. “James can even work out during the therapy, and I encourage patients to remain active during treatment.”

Marks estimated that Conner probably has had cancer for several months.

“He's a tough guy, obviously,” Marks said. “That probably minimized some of the symptoms.”

Ben Schmitt is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7991 or bschmitt@tribweb.com.

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