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Denver Nuggets coach George Karl with Carmelo Anthony - Source: Reuters
Denver Nuggets coach George Karl has been diagnosed with throat cancer, the team announced on Wednesday (NZT).
The 58-year-old, who was treated for prostrate cancer in 2005,
coached the West's All-Star team on Monday and has led the Nuggets
to the second best record in the Western Conference.
"Cancer is a vicious opponent," Karl told reporters.
"Even the ones that are treatable, you never get a 100 percent
guaranteed contract."
Treatment will consist of 35 sessions over the next six
weeks.
The sessions are expected to leave his throat extremely raw,
requiring him to be fed through his stomach in the final weeks.
"The support I've received from my family, the Nuggets organisation and my friends in the basketball community already has been incredible."
The Nuggets said they had known of Karl's condition for weeks and would support the veteran coach during his time away for treatment.
Karl agreed to a contract extension with the team last week that will keep him in Denver through the 2010-2011 campaign.
