56-Year-Old MLB Great Once Regretted an “Addictive Habit” Soon After Bearing the Pain of Cancer Treatment

Curt Schilling is a Boston Red Sox legend and helped the team win the World Series in 2004, thereby breaking an 86-year title drought. His most iconic moment was when he played through the 2004 ALCS and World Series with a severely injured ankle. But even Schilling has felt a pain that he couldn’t bear. The retired pitcher once in 2014 opened up on the pain he felt while being treated for cancer. The 3-time World Series champion opened up about the treatment after recovering. 

Curt Schilling blames chewing tobacco for his cancer and wished that he hadn’t done it

In a 2014 interview on the WEEI and NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon, Schilling talked about his battle with Cancer. He mentioned that he’d chewed tobacco for 30 years and that was what caused it. In addition to this, he also emphasized the pain that he felt throughout the treatment. Schilling said that it was so painful that he wished he could go back and stop himself from chewing tobacco. A hazardous habit that even the great Michael Jordan took part in. 

Schilling was quoted as saying “I do believe without a doubt, unquestionably that chewing is what gave me cancer and I’m not going to sit up here from the pedestal and preach about chewing. I will say this: I did for about 30 years. It was an addictive habit. I can think of so many times in my life when it was so relaxing to just sit back and have a dip and do whatever, and I lost my sense of smell, my taste buds for the most part.”

 “I had gum issues, they bled, all this other stuff. None of it was enough to ever make me quit. The pain that I was in going through this treatment, the second or third day it was the only thing in my life that had that I wish I could go back and never have dipped. Not once. It was so painful.” 

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The MLB pitcher was diagnosed in what was a moment of great luck. He was bitten by a dog and went to have it checked out. During this visit to the doctor, he also had a lump that had developed on his neck. A biopsy was done and tests showed that it was Squamous cell Carcinoma, more commonly referred to as mouth cancer. Luckily, the disease was caught early on and Schilling received treatment in time. 

Schilling warned MLB Players of the dangers of chewing tobacco

Following his diagnosis and subsequent recovery from cancer, Curt Schilling warned MLB players of the dangers that come with chewing tobacco. Furthermore, he also stated that he hoped the League would impose heavy fines and crack down on the practice.

Since then, the MLB has taken stricter action and more than half of the league’s stadiums are completely tobacco-free. In addition to this, there are more rules in place prohibiting players from chewing tobacco. But there is still a long way to go in getting rid of the practice completely.

What do you think of Curt Schilling’s painful experience with cancer and the danger of chewing tobacco? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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