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Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews Reveals Cervical Cancer Battle
Erin Andrews, Fox Sports correspondent and Dancing With the Stars co-host, revealed earlier this week that she’d battled cervical cancer during the 2016 NFL season.
In a story first reported by Sports Illustrated’s MMQB, the 38-year-old revealed that she was diagnosed with the disease on September 25. Despite her diagnosis, Andrews worked that weekend’s New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins game on Fox.
Andrews had surgery on October 11, and two days later was preparing for that weekend’s NFL telecast. When her fiancé, former NHL player Jarret Stoll, advised her to slow down, she flatly denied his request. According to MMQB, she told him:
“You wouldn’t miss a game. You’d play through any injury, do whatever it takes to get back out there. That’s going to be me.”
Andrews explained her decision to work that weekend’s game, saying, “Should I have been standing for a full game five days after surgery? Let’s just say the doctor didn’t recommend that. But just as I felt during my trial (against a stalker who secretly recorded then released footage of Andrew nudd), sports were my escape. I needed to be with my crew.”
Andrews continued to work Fox NFL telecasts and Dancing With the Stars tapings for two weeks before undergoing a second surgery on November 1. Two weeks after that procedure, doctors informed her that she was cancer free and there would be no need for chemotherapy or radiation.
As news of Andrews’ battle spread, many athletes, sports teams, and entertainment figures lauded her strength on social media.
Incredible #FightOn spirit by one of our favorites, @ErinAndrews. https://t.co/hNMrNBj2rv
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) January 24, 2017
It’s difficult just to function while battling cancer, let alone showing up for work every day.
?? to Erin Andrews!https://t.co/ocOElt0dw0— Jonny Loquasto (@JQuasto) January 24, 2017
A reminder you never know what someone is battling. Glad @ErinAndrews is ok. https://t.co/8HZj94dM0M via @sheilabot
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) January 24, 2017
#Inquisitr Erin Andrews Gets Support From DWTS Family After Secret Cancer Battle https://t.co/BdOKYFkt2l
— ArtsMusicMovies (@ArtsMusicMovies) January 25, 2017
Others also used Andrews’ story to being attention to vigilance and early detection.
https://t.co/yhmdfHzAuK Sportscaster Erin Andrews is living proof of how important early detection of cervical cancer is.
— East Hill Family Med (@EastHillMedical) January 25, 2017
According to Cancer.net, nearly 12,990 American women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year, with over 4,000 succumbing to the disease. The site goes on to stress how important early detection is to combatting the disease.
“When detected at an early stage, the 5-year survival rate for women with invasive cervical cancer is 92 percent,” according to the website. “If cervical cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 57 percent. If the cancer has spread to a distant part of the body, the 5-year survival rate is 17 percent.”