Randy Moss announces cancer battle, says he has undergone successful surgery

Randy Moss announced Friday that he has been battling cancer, and has undergone successful surgery this week.

The Hall of Fame receiver took to Instagram Live on Friday to explain his recent health scare, saying that he had been in the hospital for six days and was released Friday.

"I am a cancer survivor. Some trying times, of course, but, you know, we made it through. And for that I thank you all," Moss said.

During the Live, Moss wore a T-shirt and beanie with "Team Moss" written on it, with a lavender cancer ribbon — the color that represents cancer as a whole — in place of the "o." More merchandise was displayed next to him on the couch, which Moss said was available for sale, with most of the proceeds going to cancer research. Some of the merchandise reads, "Let's Moss Cancer" — a reference to the football slang term that bears his name.

"I want to be able to be a help, you know, to be a voice," Moss said.

ESPN announced last Friday that Moss would be stepping away indefinitely from "Sunday NFL Countdown," where he has been an analyst since 2016. The network said the leave of absence was for health reasons.

Moss filled in some of those details Friday, saying he had received a stent in his liver on Thanksgiving due to a separate medical issue. While he was receiving the stent, Moss said that doctors discovered cancer cells in his bile duct, between the pancreas and the liver.

Moss said he underwent a six-hour surgery in Charlotte this week to remove the cells. The surgery, called a Whipple procedure, is a complex surgery that can have risks; however, Moss said that it was a success.

He added that he would still need to undergo chemotherapy and radiation. "Yes, it's going to be a tough road with some chemo and radiation, but like I said, man, I'm good," Moss said.

Moss also thanked his doctors, family and friends by name and said he saw people's prayers and well wishes on social media, including from his former teammates.

"I really felt that. My family felt that," Moss said.

The Hall of Famer first indicated that something might be wrong Dec. 1, when he explained in another Live that he would be wearing sunglasses during that day's "Sunday NFL Countdown." Moss said simply that he was "battling something internal" and did not provide any additional details at the time. However, he did encourage people to check in with their doctors.

Moss reiterated that sentiment Friday, encouraging everyone, especially Black men, to get their checkups and keep up with their blood work.

"You've got to be able to check your ego at the door, man, because the one thing that really stood out to me when I was in that hospital was looking at my boys' faces, looking at my wife's beautiful face," Moss said, listing more of his family members. "I just need to be able to get back to my family."

Moss finished the Live by saying that his goal was to return to ESPN, shouting out all of the members of "Sunday NFL Countdown."