Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss said Friday he is being treated for cancer and is recovering from major surgery.
In an appearance on , Moss, aided by a cane, introduced himself as a cancer survivor and thanked his 鈥減rayer warriors鈥 for their support.
Moss said a cancerous mass was found in his bile duct, between his pancreas and liver. He said he had surgery to put a stent in his liver on Thanksgiving and then underwent a 6-hour procedure about a week ago to remove the cancer. He said he was hospitalized for six days and released on Friday.
The surgery was a Whipple procedure, Moss said. The operation involves removing the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile duct, .
鈥淚 didn't think I would ever be in a position like this, as healthy as I thought I was,鈥 Moss said.
Moss said he will undergo radiation and chemotherapy.
鈥淎ll the prayers, the well wishes, I really felt that, my family felt that,鈥 Moss said, wearing a hoodie with the words 鈥淭eam Moss.鈥
Moss stepped away from his role as an analyst on ESPN's 鈥淪unday NFL Countdown鈥 on Dec. 6.
鈥淎s soon as I get healthy to get back out with guys, I will be on set. ... Hopefully I can be with you guys soon,鈥 Moss said.
鈥淢y goal is to get back on television with my team.鈥
Moss wore a gray hoodie with the words 鈥淭eam Moss鈥 and asked for donations on his website, saying the money would go primarily toward cancer research.
The 47-year-old Moss was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 after playing 14 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings (1998-2004, 2010), Oakland Raiders (2005-06), New England Patriots (2007-10), Tennessee Titans (2010) and San Francisco 49ers (2012).
Moss is second in NFL history with 156 touchdown catches and had an NFL-record 23 TD receptions in 2007 for the Patriots.
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This story has been corrected. A previous version reported erroneously that the cancer was outside Moss' bowel duct.
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AP NFL:
Zach Allen, The Associated Press