Edwards' Recovery Coming Along Nicely

Jarrett Edwards wants BASS fans to know he is “100 percent cancer-free” and looking forward with renewed enthusiasm to the 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Tour, kicking off March 9-12 on Lake Amistad in Del Rio, Texas.

The 26-year-old Colorado pro was diagnosed this spring with Hodgkin’s disease, a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system. Doctors told Edwards his life expectancy was about 18 months if left undiagnosed. Since then, Edwards has battled the disease with an aggressive form of chemo/radiation treatment.

“I’m cancer-free now. Thank God for that,” he said. “As a precaution, I had to still go through 17 radiation treatments. Radiation has been pretty tough on my throat. I have a pretty good chance of burning out my thyroid and I’ve been fighting with the doctors not to put in a feeding tube because it’s been pretty tough to eat and drink. Thank God it will be over with on Tuesday and we’re just so excited.”

Edwards said attending the recent CITGO Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh was a big morale booster for him.

“Everything has been so tough,” he said. “But the fans and everyone out there have just been awesome. I can’t say enough about them. It did me a world of good to be at the Classic to see all my buddies and to talk to all of the fans. That kind of brought me back to life.

“I’m looking forward to next season’s Tour. It’s going to be an exciting one.”

The personable young pro hoped to compete in some CITGO Bassmaster Western Opens this summer, but realizes that isn’t realistic now.

“I tried to get in the boat about a week and a half ago, but the sun burns me extremely badly,” he said. “Right now I don’t think it’s going to happen. The radiation has zapped me so much harder than I thought it would. I’m sleeping five or six hours during the day. I just have no energy. They say it’s going to take me three or four months to start building my stamina back up and start feeling a little more comfortable.

“I hate it because we’ve got Lake Shasta and Clear Lake coming up out west and those are my two favorite lakes. I might go down there and support the guys, but I don’t think I’m in any shape to be competing right now. But it won’t be too far down the road.”
 

From BASS