NFL legend Randy Moss publicly revealed he is a ‘cancer survivor’ in a heartbreaking Instagram Live video, after weeks of fans’ speculating about his mystery illness.
The Vikings icon took to social media on Friday afternoon to share the devastating news, telling his followers he has been in hospital for the past six days – and revealing the truth behind his health problems.
Moss, who has stepped back from his ESPN duties while he undergoes treatment, also explained that he currently cannot walk without a cane.
In the Instagram Live video, a frail Moss can be seen hobbling into shot, wearing a ‘Team Moss’ shirt, before revealing: ‘I’ve told y’all over the last couple of weeks about me battling something internally, and ya boy is a cancer survivor.’
Later in the clip, he reveals: ‘I did have cancer, they found it in the bile duct, right between the pancreas and the liver, and the cancer was sitting right outside the bile duct.
‘So my doctors went in, I had six hours’ surgery, and for a lot of you guys wondering, you can Google it. I had a Whipple procedure. The best doctor in the United States, Dr [John] Martinie, I am forever grateful, your team nursed me back to health.’
Moss later went on to tell his fans that he is ‘nursing his way back’, revealing: ‘It’s going to be a tough road with some chemo and some radiation.’
It is unclear whether Moss is now cancer-free, or whether he is still receiving treatment in a bid to remove the cancerous cells from his body.
In the social media clip, Moss also took time to thank various people for their support, beginning: ‘I just want to give a shout out to a lot of people that really helped me pull through this. I’ve been in the hospital for six days, I just got out today, thank God.
‘So first and foremost I’d just like to thank God for blessing me and my family through this trying time, and me being able to come out of this surgery, and fight and battle the cancer.’
Moss went on to name each of his doctors personally, before adding: ‘The best that Charlotte has to offer man, I appreciate it. Some of the best around the whole country.
‘Man, those prayer warriors. I felt all the prayers coming through, I really did. I was looking at my social media while I was in the hospital, but you prayer warriors, all my teammates, I seen everything you guys tweeted at me. I really felt that, my family felt that, and we are definitely grateful.’
The former wide receiver then began to explain his ‘Team Moss’ shirt, urging fans to help donate to his cause, with ‘most of the proceeds going to Cancer Research’.
Moss then thanked his ESPN crew for their support, and claimed that ‘as soon as I’m back healthy, I’ll be back out there with you guys, I promise you… I will be on set.’
The NFL legend then referenced the online speculation over his illness, which culminated in his own son slamming the ‘disgusting’ claim by Larry Fitzgerald Sr. that he was battling liver cancer.
It is still unclear exactly what cancer Moss is battling, though he did go on to reveal that he had had a stent inserted into his liver during a ‘two-hour procedure’ on Thanksgiving.
‘There were a few people out here trying to be doctors that really weren’t doctors, and those clowns I won’t acknowledge,’ Moss continued.
‘I went through a procedure and I told you guys last week about getting checked, getting scans, getting bloodwork, that’s not just for males… females, everyone.
‘You’ve got to be able to check your ego at the door, man. When I was in the hospital, looking at my boys’ faces, my beautiful wife’s face, you filled me with so much joy, I just need to get back to my family… Like I said, man, just being able to pull through and my family gave me so much strength.’
