James Conner announces he is officially cancer free

James Conner greets the crowd at the Blue/Gold game. Jeff Ahearn | Assistant Visual Editor

Redshirt junior running back James Conner received news from his doctor Monday afternoon that after six months of chemotherapy treatment, he is cancer free.

Conner was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on Thanksgiving Day 2015.

“This is one of the more common types of cancer we see in men his age,” Conner’s doctor, Stanley Marks said when he was diagnosed. “It is a highly curable cancer. We are optimistic that James will be cured.”

Conner announced via Twitter on Monday that he is officially cancer free, and thanked God for his successful treatment.

After tearing his MCL in the first week of the 2015 season, Conner dedicated himself to rehabilitating the injury and preparing to return to the field as a senior. Instead of declaring for the NFL draft, he wanted to return for one more year with the Panthers.

But Conner’s road to recovery encountered a major setback when he started to experience vague symptoms while working out, including sinus issues, swelling around his face and decreased stamina.

“It started off with like a cough, and I’m lifting weights and it feels like my head is getting pumped with air, and I’m like, ‘Something isn’t right.’” Conner said in a video interview on the Ellen DeGeneres show.

The running back underwent two sessions of chemotherapy treatment per week for six months at the Lemieux Center at the Hillman Cancer Center.

He completed his 12th and final round of chemotherapy on May 9.

UPDATE: Head Coach Pat Narduzzi’s statement on Conner’s clean bill of health:

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