Randy Moss announces cancer battle and says he has undergone successful surgery

Randy Moss announced Friday that he has been battling cancer and underwent successful surgery this week.

The Hall of Fame inductee took to Instagram Live on Friday to explain his latest health scare, saying he had been in the hospital for six days and was released on Friday.

“I’m a cancer survivor. Some trying times, sure, but you know we made it through. And for that I thank you all,” Moss said.

During Livet, Moss wore a T-shirt and hat with “Team Moss” written on it, with a lavender cancer ribbon – the color representing cancer as a whole – in place of the “o”. More merchandise was displayed next to him on the couch, which Moss said was available for sale, with most of the proceeds going to cancer research. Some of the items say “Let’s Moss Cancer” – a reference to the football slang term that bears his name.

“I want to be a help, you know, to be a voice,” Moss said on Live.

ESPN announced last Friday that Moss would leave Sunday’s NFL Countdown indefinitely, where he has been an analyst since 2016. The network said the leave was for health reasons.

Moss filled in some of those details on Friday, saying he received a stent in his liver on Thanksgiving for a separate medical issue. While receiving the stent, Moss said doctors discovered cancer cells in his bile duct, between the pancreas and liver.

Moss said he underwent a six-hour operation this week in Charlotte to remove the cells. The surgery, called a Whipple procedure, is a complex operation that can have risks; However, Moss said it was a success.

He added that he still had to undergo chemotherapy and radiation. “Yeah, it’s going to be a tough road with some chemo and radiation, but like I said, man, I’m feeling good,” Moss said.

Moss also thanked his doctors, family and friends by name and said he saw people’s prayers and well wishes on social media, including from his former teammates.

“I really felt it. My family felt it,” Moss said.

The Hall of Famer first indicated something might be wrong on Dec. 1 when he explained in another Live that he would be wearing sunglasses during that day’s Sunday NFL Countdown. Moss simply said he was “struggling with something internally” and did not provide further details at the time. However, he urged people to check in with their doctors.

Moss echoed that sentiment Friday, urging everyone, especially black men, to get their exams and keep up with their blood work.

“You’ve got to be able to check your ego at the door, man, because the one thing that really stood out to me when I was in that hospital was looking at my boys’ faces, looking at my wife’s beautiful face. ” Moss said, listing several of his family members. “I just need to be able to get back to my family.”

Moss ended Life by saying his goal was to return to ESPN, and called out all the members of the Sunday NFL Countdown.