CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Trident Medical Center is celebrating two-time Super Bowl winner and South Carolina native Jim Stuckey for being cancer-free.
His story is raising awareness for this National Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month.
It’s estimated nearly 70,000 new cases of head and neck cancer will be diagnosed this year.
Stuckey celebrated his milestone of being cancer-free with a walk down the red carpet with dozens of Trident Medical Center staff members cheering him on. It was an intense journey for Jim as he had microvascular reconstruction surgery that required a lot of care afterwards and wound healing. For a while, he had a trach for breathing and saw a speech therapist.
Sara Jasper, a member of his care team, read a letter on his behalf, which he called words from his heart.
“I’ve been surrounded by the best championship organizations all my adult life. I know the difference and what it looks like from Clemson University football, winning two Super Bowls with Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers, and being with the Kiawah Island Real Estate team the last three years, let me tell you, I know what first class looks like. Trident and Head and Neck Cancer Specialists, along with the team at the hospital, are world champions. I congratulate you guys and thank you for saving my life,” Stuckey said.
Medical staff say it is important that people get diagnosed early they can be treated. Diagnoses of head and neck cancer are increasing, but so is the survival rate for early head and neck cancer diagnosis cases.
“Early signs and symptoms of head and neck cancers, in the mouth, would be a red or white patch that doesn’t heal, it might be a lump in the neck that is persistent and doesn’t go away. Sometimes, sore throat, bleeding in the mouth,” Sarah Cannon Cancer Network National Director of Head and Neck Oncology Terry Day said.
It’s best to seek attention right away if you notice any of those early signs and symptoms. You can learn more on the Head and Neck Cancer Awareness website.
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Two-time Super Bowl Winner celebrates winning battle with head and neck cancer
