Strawberry Battling Cancer

Jet, August 14, 2000

STRAWBERRY BATTLING CANCER: Suspended New York Yankees slugger Darryl Strawberry, shown in 1999, was slated to undergo tests at JET press time to determine whether his colon cancer first discovered and treated in 1998, had spread beyond his lymph nodes. Strawberry, 38, earlier revealed to a Florida TV station his cancer had recurred.

Asked about the possibility he violated probation stemming from drug and sex charges in 1999 when he abruptly left a drug clinic early, he declined comment. However, he said his first priority would be to fight his cancer. "Physically, I have some situation coming up right now that's going to be real difficult for me," he said. "So I have to deal with them at this point." Asked if his cancer had returned, he said, "Yes."