Back After Special Surgery, a Jets Coach is Again Earning Praise
Bone cancer had left New York Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff almost unable to walk and facing the prospect of having to quit the job he loved.
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October 19, 2009
Bone cancer had left New York Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff almost unable to walk and facing the prospect of having to quit the job he loved. However, after a New York doctor successfully conducted an innovative surgery Westhoff is back proving why he is one of the best in the business.
According to Yahoo Sports, the months of rehabilitation after the February 2008 operation were grueling but Westhoff never lost his determination to toss out the cane, crutches and special orthopedic shoes once and for all.
"I knew I was going to come back at that point," he told the news source. "I was feeling great, moving around. I thought, 'this stuff will be easy now'."
In fact, he has been thriving helping the Jets to victories in the 2008 season as well as this year when the team was elevated to the top of the American Football Conference East.
The American Cancer Society estimates that some 2,570 new cases of bone cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, and 1,470 people will die of it.
Although doctors have not yet discovered factors that lower the risk of the disease, it is known that a family history or previous radiation or chemotherapy significantly increase the likelihood of developing bone cancer. That is why experts advise those who belong to a high-risk category to get regular screenings.
The Bone Cancer Foundation and the Bone Cancer Research Foundation both accept donations and provide resources for survivors and their families.
Bone cancer had left New York Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff almost unable to walk and facing the prospect of having to quit the job he loved. However, after a New York doctor successfully conducted an innovative surgery Westhoff is back proving why he is one of the best in the business.
According to Yahoo Sports, the months of rehabilitation after the February 2008 operation were grueling but Westhoff never lost his determination to toss out the cane, crutches and special orthopedic shoes once and for all.
"I knew I was going to come back at that point," he told the news source. "I was feeling great, moving around. I thought, 'this stuff will be easy now'."
In fact, he has been thriving helping the Jets to victories in the 2008 season as well as this year when the team was elevated to the top of the American Football Conference East.
The American Cancer Society estimates that some 2,570 new cases of bone cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, and 1,470 people will die of it.
Although doctors have not yet discovered factors that lower the risk of the disease, it is known that a family history or previous radiation or chemotherapy significantly increase the likelihood of developing bone cancer. That is why experts advise those who belong to a high-risk category to get regular screenings.
The Bone Cancer Foundation and the Bone Cancer Research Foundation both accept donations and provide resources for survivors and their families.
