Alouettes' Calvillo reveals thyroid problem

Good fortune can come in the most surprising packages.

Anthony Calvillo was injured on Aug. 19 at Montreal after falling on the ball while playing against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers bruising his sternum so badly he was left writhing on the field.

That injury may have saved his life.

Calvillo revealed Sunday night about an hour after the Montreal Alouettes' Grey Cup victory over Saskatchewan at Commonwealth Stadium that he has been hiding a problem with the thyroid gland in his throat.

The Alouettes' outstanding quarterback will undergo an operation in seven days to remove half of his thyroid after doctors found a lesionwhile conducting extensive tests immediately following the sternum injury.

An emotional Calvillo told the post-game news conference in Edmonton that he was willing to have it taken out at the time it was found, but doctors said it could wait until the end of the season, though no longer than that.

'They did a biopsy, and it came back inconclusive, and that's why they are going to have to take out half the thyroid, and based on that, they will figure out what I need to take.' Anthony Calvillo

He also revealed doctors were not sure if the problem was cancer, andhalf the thyroid will beremovedso they cancheck. Biopsies had been inconclusive.

Calvillos wife, Alexia Kontolemos,successfully fought cancer two years ago a battle that caused him to step away from football for the final month of the season. Her cancer wasB-cell lymphoma, described as a non-Hodgkins tumour of the lymph glands.

"There is a chance [it is cancer], and that's why they have to take it out," Calvillosaid, fighting tears a few times during the newsconference while his wife hovered nearby in the tent.

"They did a biopsy, and it came back inconclusive, and that's why they are going to have to take out half the thyroid, and based on that, they will figure out what I need to take."

Nodule suspense

About 12 to 15 per cent of nodules found on thyroids are cancerous, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, though the number is slightly higher for those under 40. Calvillo is 38.

He said the doctors and the family had three opinions believe that it can be treated, and that if he wants to he can continuehis football career.

He added that in no way had the doctors put football before his health when making the decision not to act immediately.

A key was finding the lesion in the first place one that might not have been seen until it became more serious if not for his Augustinjury. Calvillo said the only symptom hes felt has been a hoarseness in his voice.

The effect on his family, especially having gone through it with his wife, was an interesting one.

"I think to be honest with you, I think we all played it down pretty much," he said. "With my family that was the case for the most part our family has been very strong."

And having football continue helped immensely.

"Ive always looked forward to playing football, and even when my wife was going through cancer, football was an outlet for me, and it allowed me to think of something else, and to look forward to something else.

"For me, football gave me an opportunity to not think about it."

Now the game is done for the season.

"Were going to go to California for a week with my family, and then come back [to Montreal] for the surgery."

At the end of the conference Calvillo was embraced by his wife, and then they went off into the Edmonton night, to face the future together.