NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss revealed that he had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer but is now cancer-free after a six-hour surgery, according to CBS News.

 

Earlier this month, Moss, 47, stepped away from his broadcasting duties at ESPN. Last week, he addressed his absence from Sunday NFL Countdown via Instagram live.

 

“I’m battling something, man, and it’s something internal,” Moss said. “Your boy is going to get through it. I got a great team of doctors and got a great family around me. All you men, do your checkups and get your bloodwork done.”

 

This week, the Minnesota Vikings legend revealed that his doctors had discovered bile duct cancer during surgery to place a stent in his liver because his waste was pouring into his urine.

 

“They found it in the bowel duct, right in-between the pancreas and the liver,” the retired wide receiver said.

 

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Bile duct cancer, also known as cholangiocarcinoma, is a rare type of cancer that affects the vessels that carry bile from the liver and the gallbladder to the small intestine. Bile duct cancers can develop anywhere in the duct system, inside or outside the liver.

 

This year, only 8,000 people in the United States are estimated to be diagnosed with bile duct cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Survival rates and treatment largely depend on the location of the cancer and how advanced it is when it is detected.

 

Moss shared that he is cancer-free after undergoing a six-hour surgery called a Whipple procedure, which treats tumors and other conditions in the pancreas, small intestine and bile ducts. The procedure involves removing the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile duct, according to the Mayo Clinic.

 

Moss spent six days in the hospital. He thanked his team of doctors, his family and all the “prayer warriors” who sent him well wishes on social media and beyond.

 

“I felt all the prayers coming through there, I really did,” he said via Instagram.

 

Throughout his 14 seasons with the NFL, Moss played for six teams, starting with the Vikings from 1998 to 2004. At Monday night’s home game against the Chicago Bears, the Vikings brought out Moss’s jersey midfield during the coin toss.

 

“In honor of Randy Moss and all those fighting cancer, let’s Moss cancer,” the in-stadium announcer said. 

 

 

In 2007, Moss was traded to the New England Patriots, where he experienced a career resurgence and set the single season record for total touchdown receptions.

 

 

“Cancer is about to get Mossed and Patriots fans everywhere will continue to celebrate!” the caption reads.

 

Moss is now selling “We Got Moss: Fight Against Cancer” and “Team Moss: Let’s Moss Cancer” T-shirts, hats and sweatshirts via his website.

 

“I am a cancer survivor,” Moss said. “We made it through, and, for that, I thank you all.”

 

To read more, click #Bile Duct Cancer. There, you’ll find headlines such as “Musical Passion Reignited 6 Years After Bile Duct Cancer Diagnosis.” “Immunotherapy Improves Survival for People With Liver Cancer” and “Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancer.”