Alabama AD schedules procedure in cancer fight

After more than two years of dealing with a private health issue, Alabama director of athletics Bill Battle announced Tuesday he is taking some time away from the job.

Battle has been taking on multiple myeloma since first being diagnosed in the spring of 2014, according to a release from the school.

“Subsequent to that diagnosis my wife, Mary, and I visited with doctors at The University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas; the Lewis and Faye Manderson Cancer Center at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa; and the Winship Cancer Institute to determine the best treatment options,” Battle said in a news release. “I am very comfortable with the diagnosis and treatment plan. I am looking forward to getting this behind me and continuing my active lifestyle, as well as continuing to lead our Athletics Department. My experience has made it clear to me that cancer can be a treatable disease that can be dealt with while maintaining a high quality of life.”

He is set to travel to Atlanta to undergo a stem cell transplant that his doctors described as the next step in treating the disease, which is already in “a good partial remission.”

The release also notes, “Battle is in excellent health and his condition is not considered life threatening.”

Battle has already undergone radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

“Coach Battle has done very well with his treatment,” Dr. David Hinton said in Alabama’s news release. “He is in great physical shape, has responded very well to all of his treatment so far, and we expect an excellent response from this stage of treatment as well.

“The purpose of this procedure is to prolong his remission. He has been very active, exercising, staying in great shape, and he will to be able to continue that lifestyle after completing this phase of treatment.”