Pitt Running Back James Conner Appears On 'Ellen'
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Pitt running back James Conner's emotional story and battle with cancer is getting a national audience.
Conner traveled to Los Angeles to appear on "The Ellen Degeneres Show" Thursday.
"The first two years everything was just going great, I had not complaints, and then this happened out of nowhere," Conner told Ellen.
Conner is currently battling Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer and told Ellen that he has two more treatments of chemotherapy to get through.
"I got to beat this, I got to overcome it," Conner said.
Conner has been doing some practicing with the team, wearing a mask most of the time to avoid getting sick.
He hopes to be back before Pitt's season opener.
"I owe it to my teammates, and I owe it to the City of Pittsburgh to be ready," Conner said.
The only thing he can't do right now is get tackled, he says he has a port in his chest through which he receives chemotherapy.
Eric Berry, a safety for the Kansas City Chiefs, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma last year and was cleared to practice roughly seven months later.
Conner said Berry has been his inspiration, and Ellen brought Berry on the show to surprise Conner.
Berry reached out to Conner after finding out about his diagnoses.
"A scout came to our meeting room and told me, one of the top running backs in the country just found out he was diagnosed with the same cancer that you have," Berry said.
Berry had this advice for anyone battling cancer, or any other obstacle.
"It's never about the cancer, it's all about what you're willing to put in to overcome whatever the obstacle is," Berry said.
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