2008 Woodie Awards
Palmer faces fight off of the ice, proves to be strong
Scott Montesano
Issue date: 4/15/04 Section: Sports
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In a year when wins were rare for the Red Foxes ice hockey team, the story of freshmen Jon Palmer can easily bring a smile to any fan's face. He wasn't one of the Foxes most recognizable faces this season, but his story is one that provides the club with its most important win of the campaign.
More importantly, his unwavering confidence in the face of a terrifying disease provides nothing short of a positive spin on a season full of negative moments.
Palmer played in only five games for the Foxes, before his season was cut short soon after the new year. An 18-year-old man from Ocean, NJ, Palmer was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer during winter break.
"I began feeling a rock hard lump in my upper right thigh,"Palmer said during an interview from his home earlier this week. "I had no idea what it was."
Palmer - who was on campus at the time with the hockey team - checked into St. Francis hospital for examination, with the original thought that it was a sign of mono. While nothing was found, a later biopsy at New York Sloan-Kettering Hospital showed signs of a tumor.
Melanoma is considered a very serious form of skin cancer, which typically shows up on males on their neck, shoulders or - in Palmer's case - his upper thigh.
Immediately after the diagnosis, the vibrant forward's season was over. After suffering a shoulder injury early in the campaign, he had worked hard to get back on the ice. Now his season was officially over.
Still, throughout it all, Palmer has remained nothing short of positive.
"I tried not to think about it," he said. "I didn't dwell on it." Known for his outgoing personality and ever-present smile, he has maintained those qualities over the past few months.
On Feb. 5, Palmer had the cancer removed at Sloan-Kettering Hospital. The surgery, he said, was called a success.
Palmer said that the world renowned Dr. Coit performed an amazing surgery. Palmer also said that his family had a history of this form of cancer.
More importantly, his unwavering confidence in the face of a terrifying disease provides nothing short of a positive spin on a season full of negative moments.
Palmer played in only five games for the Foxes, before his season was cut short soon after the new year. An 18-year-old man from Ocean, NJ, Palmer was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer during winter break.
"I began feeling a rock hard lump in my upper right thigh,"Palmer said during an interview from his home earlier this week. "I had no idea what it was."
Palmer - who was on campus at the time with the hockey team - checked into St. Francis hospital for examination, with the original thought that it was a sign of mono. While nothing was found, a later biopsy at New York Sloan-Kettering Hospital showed signs of a tumor.
Melanoma is considered a very serious form of skin cancer, which typically shows up on males on their neck, shoulders or - in Palmer's case - his upper thigh.
Immediately after the diagnosis, the vibrant forward's season was over. After suffering a shoulder injury early in the campaign, he had worked hard to get back on the ice. Now his season was officially over.
Still, throughout it all, Palmer has remained nothing short of positive.
"I tried not to think about it," he said. "I didn't dwell on it." Known for his outgoing personality and ever-present smile, he has maintained those qualities over the past few months.
On Feb. 5, Palmer had the cancer removed at Sloan-Kettering Hospital. The surgery, he said, was called a success.
Palmer said that the world renowned Dr. Coit performed an amazing surgery. Palmer also said that his family had a history of this form of cancer.