Tag: Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Texans WR John Metchie’s advice on fighting cancer: ‘Just show up and fight’

Houston Texans receiver John Metchie provided advice on what he learned about battling acute promyelocytic leukemia.

A year ago John Metchie couldn’t help the Houston Texans; he was in a battle for his life.

In mid-July 2022, the former Alabama receiver was diagnosed with Houston Texans receiver John Metchie provided advice on what he learned about battling acute promyelocytic leukemia. His rookie season was over before it could begin, and the Texans’ second-round pick had to pivot towards treatments for a cancer of the blood.

Just as athletes watch film of others to take cues and add to their skillset, Metchie took the advice of other patients as he recovered from his illness.

“Yeah, the biggest thing I took away was just show up and fight,” Metchie told reporters Aug. 3 after training camp practice. “We kind of understand and take for granted life and everything we have to do or get to do during a day, but then when it’s taken away from you — whether you’re young or old in the hospital — you kind of realize that people see clearly what’s important to them and who’s important to them, right? Their family, their life, regardless of what they were complaining about or what stresses you have, you realize that the biggest gift you have is your breath and your heartbeat.”

What Metchie discovered is fighting was the common theme for everyone no matter their vital statistics otherwise.

Said Metchie: “The biggest thing I took away is, regardless of age, size, where you came from, everybody had to wake up and fight every day. So, just keeping that and keeping that gratitude at the forefront of your mind for me will always be a good thing.”

Metchie was a full participant in the Texans’ offseason workouts starting in April.

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Understanding Texans WR John Metchie’s Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia diagnosis

Houston Texans WR John Metchie was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, which can be a treatable form of cancer.

The sports world was blindsided with unfortunate news on Sunday when Houston Texans rookie receiver John Metchie announced his Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia diagnosis.

The No. 44 overall pick from the 2022 NFL draft will almost certainly miss his rookie campaign. Although safety Andre Hal was able to return to the playing field the same year he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia requires aggressive treatment.

Aggressive treatment isn’t a negative; sometimes it can relate to how treatable a cancer is. For example, Burkitt’s Lymphoma Type-B, the fastest growing cancer on the books, is very treatable with a 90% survival rate after 10 years.

Texans fans know more about their team than oncology. The following information from DynaMed medical library should provide clarity and hope as Houston sports fans shift their focus from rooting for Metchie on-field to off-field.

Leukemia is a type of cancer that effects the bone marrow. This disease is generally a neoplasm of either the lymphoid or myeloid cell lines where the cells begin to multiply in an unregulated fashion. Symptoms arise as the number of cancerous cells begin to outnumber and replace the needed quantity of healthy blood cells.

Specificially, Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) is a cancer of promyelocytes. These cells are immature white blood cells, the ones that are responsible for carrying out many functions of your body’s immune system. It is generally discovered as a bleeding disorder due to how the cancer effects the function and number of platelets, the substance responsible for clotting, in blood.

APL is a cancer that is generally found in young people with a median age of 44 with increased risk of incidence from ages 20 to 60. It compromises approximately 10% of all Acute Myeloid Leukemia cases and there are only 600-800 total cases per year that are diagnosed in the United States.

The prognosis for this disease and for Metchie is very favorable. Cure rates are extremely high with only a reported 10% induction mortality rate. The chances of relapse are also very low at 20%.

Texans show support for WR John Metchie following Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia diagnosis

Receiver John Metchie drew support from past and present Houston Texans following his announcement of his Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia diagnosis.

Houston Texans rookie receiver John Metchie shocked football fans Sunday when he revealed he had been diagnosed with a rare but treatable form of leukemia.

“Recently I was diagnosed with APL (Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia), the most curable of Leukemia,” Metchie said via a statement from the Texans. “I am currently receiving great medical care, am in good spirts and I expect to make a recovery at a later point in time.”

Football is out of the question for the second-round pick from Alabama as he focuses on beating cancer. Nevertheless Metchie drew support from the Texans organization following his announcement.

Texans president Greg Grissom took to Twitter and expressed support for Metchie.

“We wish you a quick and easy recovery, John!” Grissom wrote. “H-Town is behind you!”

Defensive lineman Thomas Booker, who was taken in the fifth round, gave encouragement to Metchie, his fellow draft mate.

“Already know that the comeback will be legendary,” Booker wrote, punctuating the statement with praying hands.

Former Texans guard Chester Pitts, also a second-round pick with the organization, who played from 2002-09, expressed his support for Metchie.

Metchie anticipated that he would receive such warm support from the Texans and the rest of the sports community — athletes, fans, and commentators alike — which is why he thanked everyone in advance.

“My main focus will be on my healthy and recovery,” Metchie wrote. “Thank you in advance for your support and well-wishes. I cannot wait to come back stronger than ever. God bless.”

Metchie was already working back from a torn ACL sustained in December in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia. Given that Metchie will have a serious injury and a serious illness to overcome, it will be the rudiments for a hardened origin story once the wideout is finally able to suit up in the NFL.

Twitter reacts to Leukemia diagnosis of Texans rookie WR John Metchie

Houston Texans rookie receiver John Metchie gathered an outpouring of support on Twitter following his diagnosis of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia.

Houston Texans rookie receiver John Metchie announced Sunday he has a rare form of leukemia.

“Recently I was diagnosed with APL (Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia), the most curable of Leukemia,” Metchie said via a statement from the Texans. “I am currently receiving great medical care, am in good spirts and I expect to make a recovery at a later point in time.”

The diagnosis is a significant blow to his chances to play in 2022. Metchie was already working back from a torn ACL sustained in December in the SEC Championship Game.

As Metchie concluded his statement that he couldn’t wait, “to come back stronger than ever,” an army of well-wishers took to Twitter to show their support for the Texans’ second-round pick.

Texans rookie WR John Metchie diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia and likely to miss 2022 season

Houston Texans rookie receiver John Metchie announced his Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia diagnosis, and says he may miss the 2022 season.

Houston Texans rookie receiver John Metchie announced he has a type of Leukemia and may miss the entire 2022 season.

“Recently I was diagnosed with APL (Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia), the most curable of Leukemia,” Metchie said via a statement from the Texans. “I am currently receiving great medical care, am in good spirts and I expect to make a recovery at a later point in time. As a result of this diagnosis, I will likely not be playing football this season. My main focus will be on my healthy and recovery. Thank you in advance for your support and well-wishes. I cannot wait to come back stronger than ever. God bless.”

According to WebMD, Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells.

The most recent Texans player to have cancer was safety Andre Hal, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in June 2018. Although Hal had a different type of cancer than Metchie, he was able to recover during training camp and preseason and ultimately returned to the field the very same year he was diagnosed with cancer.

Guard David Quessenberry’s career was nearly derailed early on with a Lymphoma diagnosis in 2014. The 2013 sixth-rounder from San Jose State missed 2014-16, but managed to make the team’s practice squad in 2017 with his NFL debut in Week 16 that year. Quessenberry played with the Tennessee Titans from 2018-21 and is now with the Buffalo Bills.

The second-round pick from Alabama was rehabilitating from a torn ACL sustained in December during last season’s SEC Championship Game against Alabama.

Offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton told reporters on June 15 during mandatory minicamp that Metchie’s best asset on the field is his work after the catch.

“He can create his own yards once he gets the ball in his hands,” Hamilton said. “He has good short-area quickness, which will allow him to beat man coverage, and that’s what you got to do in the National Football League.”