England Patriots Nate Solder

New England Patriots Nate Solder recently revealed that his four-month-old son Hudson has a cancerous Wilms’ tumor in his kidneys,

The 27-year-old offensive lineman said his son has started undergoing chemotherapy at Boston Children’s Hospital.

This news comes a little over a year after the football player was diagnosed and treated for testicular cancer.

Nate thanked friends and fans for their support after making the heartbreaking cancer announcement last night at a Gala benefitting the Joe Andruzzi Foundation.

 

Judging by the photo, Hudson isn’t letting chemo get him down. He’s such a cute and smiley baby!

According to NBC, the Wilms’ tumor is an extremely rare cancer that affects just 500 children every year in the U.S.,

“It looks different than kidney cancer in adults,” said Dr. Johnathan Ross, chief of pediatric urology at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.. “One of the good things about Wilms’ tumors … they’re much more sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation” compared to adult cancer.

Most Wilms’ tumors respond well to treatment, Ross said, noting that removing the affected kidney and following with chemotherapy or radiation is a common form of treatment. Ross explained that the tumor often does not make children feel sick or ill, so they usually are diagnosed after a parent or doctor sees or feels the tumor in the abdomen.

“They usually don’t come in until it’s large enough that their belly is distended,” Ross explained.

Our thoughts are with the Solder family during this difficult journey.