Detroit Tigers: Daniel Norris is Cancer-Free

The Detroit Tigers and their fans were able to breathe a sigh of relief with the good news that Daniel Norris is free of cancer. Norris himself made the announcement via Instagram through a sleepy-eyed black and white photograph that exposed his scar. With all of the drama of the Tigers pitching staff this year, Daniel Norris’s experience battling cancer lets us all remember what is truly important.

No matter what happens in the off-season or on the diamond, it is important for us to all remember that each of our favorite (and not-so-favorite) baseball players is a human being. Each of them is just as fragile as the next. We might get upset with the players who destroy our fantasy games or with players who seem to choke at the worst time. But, when a man like Daniel Norris is able to pitch while a cancerous tumor is locked on to his thyroid gland, those fantasy numbers and clutch moments do not seem important.

Thyroid cancer like Daniel Norris’s is relatively rare. Interestingly, most thyroid growths are benign. According to the Mayo Clinic, this type of cancer does have a few symptoms, like hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and a lump in the neck. Fortunately, nearly all of the cancers that occur on the thyroid are completely treatable. In fact, it is one of the most treatable cancers, especially when it is diagnosed early on.