Minnesota Twins GM Terry Ryan being treated for skin cancer
Twins GM to miss start of spring training while undergoing treatment.
Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan (center) speaks to the media prior to the game against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field. (Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports)
Where do we get our news these days? Seems like Twitter is about the best ticker available. With that, this crossed my timeline from Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY…
Here's to a speedy recovery for great man #Twins GM Terry Ryan, who announces he is being treated for cancer (squamous cell carcinoma)
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 10, 2014
In case you’re wondering (and I know you are), squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer according to skincancer.org. The website also states that SCC (as it is referred) can “often look like scaly red patches, open sores, elevated growths with a central depression, or warts; they may crust or bleed. SCC is mainly caused by cumulative UV exposure over the course of a lifetime.” Approximately 700,000 cases are diagnosed each year with roughly 2,500 deaths attributed to SCC.
Yes, SCC is treatable and curable. Another Nightengale tweet revealed that Ryan will miss the onset of spring training as he undergoes treatment for SCC. Ryan is optimistic on his chances of a return.