Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard shares testicular cancer diagnosis in a letter to fans

Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery, he revealed in a letter to ISU fans Wednesday.

Pollard, 56, writes that he had one testicle removed on November 23 and received a cancer diagnosis the next day. He first felt pain in his groin after training 4 weeks ago.

He had further tests on Monday that showed his cancer had not spread from its original site.

“We also discussed follow-up options, including doing nothing more than monitoring my blood work and doing a CT scan every 3-6 months, undergoing chemotherapy or starting radiation therapy. ,” Pollard wrote in her letter. “We visited an oncologist this Friday to learn more about my treatment options.”

Pollard, who has served as Iowa State athletic director since 2005, is the longest-serving AD in school history. Oshkosh, Wisconsin, native, a Wisconsin-Oshkosh all-American cross-country runner, came to Iowa State after serving as an administrator at the University of Wisconsin.

In 2015, he suffered a heart attack and had to undergo triple bypass surgery.

Pollard writes that he has debated whether to share his medical situation but also feels stressed about hiding it, especially after surgery forced him to miss a talk. .

“When I had open-heart surgery in 2015, it allowed me to encourage others who were battling similar heart problems,” Pollard writes. “By sharing some details about my cancer diagnosis and treatment plan, I can emphasize the importance of early detection as it relates to cancer survival rates.. I feel fortunate to know the cancer has not spread and am willing to follow what my medical team feels is the best course of treatment.

“As a Coach [Matt] Campbell likes to say, ‘Trust in Progress.’ That is exactly what I will do. “