Bigger Than Baseball: Liam Hendriks' Battle Against Cancer
At 33 years old, Liam Hendriks, the All-Star Major League Baseball closing pitcher known for his blazing fastballs, made a sobering announcement at the end of the 2022 MLB season — he had been diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Fighting Cancer
The day after his announcement, Hendriks began cancer treatment at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Phoenix, Arizona, with the goal of beating cancer in time to rejoin his team for the 2023 season. He approached this battle with the same focus, fierceness, and determination he brings to the mound, which won him ESPN's 2023 Jimmy V ESPY Award for Perseverance. During his acceptance speech, Hendriks expressed heartfelt gratitude for his wife Kristi, the Chicago White Sox organization, and his healthcare team at Mayo Clinic.
A Positive Outlook
Known for his unflappable composure, Hendriks attacked cancer with the same mindset he uses against the best hitters. "Hope is one of the biggest things," he said. "I've always had the attitude, 'Why fret, why stress, why bother with a woe is me kind of thing?' Because me complaining about it isn't going to change it." He embraced an "all in" approach, looking for the silver lining in his situation.
Diagnosis and Treatment
In June 2022, Hendriks noticed some lumps on the back of his neck but initially didn't think much of it. A blood test came back clean, leading him to suspect stress. However, as the season ended, the lumps had grown, prompting further tests that revealed lymphoma. A full-body PET scan showed cancer had spread, and he was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He likely played the entire 2022 season with cancer.
Doctor's Confidence
Hendriks' lymphoma specialist, Dr. Allison Rosenthal, reassured him by saying, "I'm not worried," and shared that she was a cancer survivor and former athlete herself. This gave Hendriks a significant sense of relief and confidence in his treatment.
Return to the Field
Hendriks' treatment plan included a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Throughout his treatment, he attended spring training practices with his team. Dr. Rosenthal encouraged him to maintain his usual habits and patterns, which helped him feel normal and stay strong.
Message of Hope
On May 29, 2023, Hendriks returned to the field, cancer-free, and was welcomed back with a standing ovation. He expressed immense gratitude for his wife, his team at Mayo Clinic, and especially Dr. Rosenthal.
Hendriks now aims to help others close out cancer, sharing a message of strength and positivity: "You're never alone and don't ever for a second think, 'Why me?' You are strong enough to be able to handle it and that's why this happened to you. You are strong enough to be able to get through this. You are strong enough to be able to get to the other side and make a difference for the next person. That's why you. It's never, 'Why me?' It's 'Why not me?' I'm going to make this a positive."
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Credit: Marty Velasco Hames - Mayo Clinic
