DALLAS – Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg announced on Tuesday that his prostate cancer had relapsed and spread to other organs.
“This means that I’m back to more intensive treatment,” he wrote on Instagram. “We will continue to be positive, strong, and fight to beat this. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for me and my family.”
Sandberg was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer almost a year ago. He provided regular updates on his treatment to social media and was intentional about spreading awareness.
In June, on the 40th anniversary of the infamous “Sandberg Game,” the Hall of Fame second baseman took the podium for his statue unveiling outside of Wrigley Field.
“My life changed a lot in 1984, but that’s nothing compared to what happened six months ago,” he said. “So my thoughts today are instead about love, life, family and friends.”
In August he announced that he was cancer-free. But the cancer has since returned.
“Ryne is an inspiration to cancer survivors everywhere,” Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. “I know all Cubs fans join my family and me in sending positive thoughts to Ryne and keeping him and his family in our prayers as he faces this next round of treatments to defeat cancer. Ryne has the heart and soul of a champion and that will serve him well in this challenge.”