PHOENIX — A routine physical found a lump in Doug Davis' throat on Feb. 6.
Biopsy results revealed unfortunate news — thyroid cancer.
Davis, the Arizona Diamondbacks' 32-year-old starting pitcher, will undergo surgery to remove his entire thyroid gland on April 10 after he makes his first two starts of the season Thursday against Cincinnati and April 8 against the Dodgers.
"I'm very optimistic about the outcome," Davis said after he pitched 2 2/3 innings in the D-backs' 12-4 spring training loss to the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field on Friday night. "I know I'm not going through this alone. I have my fiancée to help me out, My family, 25 guys on the team behind me, giving me all their blessings."
Head team physician Michael Lee said Davis might be able to return four to six weeks after surgery and undergoing thyroid replacement therapy.
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"We see him being with us the rest of the season," Lee said. "It's just a matter of when that would happen."
The results of a biopsy Wednesday revealed the hard mass in Davis' throat was cancerous. Davis said he was not surprised by the news, considering the condition runs in his family — his mother and sister both have had their thyroid glands removed.
"I'm not going to say I wasn't crying; I was. I was just down, bottom line," Davis said of his initial reaction.
But Davis said the medical staff has reassured him the cancer has a nearly 100 percent recovery rate, and his mom and sister have recovered from it.
"It's something I know I'll be able to fight through and I know I'm young enough and strong enough to make a full recovery," Davis said.
Doctors informed Davis he could wait two weeks to have the surgery.
"The focus should be on the D-backs and this upcoming season," Davis said. "This could happen to anybody. Just because it happened to a baseball player, it's a big media thing."
The prognosis is often excellent for the cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic's Web site, and oftentimes surgery can remove the cancer's most common forms. Thyroid cancer can lead to such complications as hoarseness and difficulty swallowing and breathing. The gland is at the base of the neck, below the Adam's apple, and regulates metabolism.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with him," manager Bob Melvin said.
After the D-backs announced Davis' condition, he made his scheduled start, allowing eight runs, four home runs and nine hits. He struck out five and walked two. Brad Hawpe, Yorvit Torrealba and Jayson Nix hit consecutive home runs off Davis in the second inning.
"I didn't think about it at all," Davis said of his condition.
Catcher Robby Hammock was impressed with Davis' calm reaction to the diagnosis.
"You never want to hear about something like that with how young he is," Hammock said. "We love having him around and hope everything works out. I know he's a strong individual who can overcome this."
Last season, Davis went 13-12 with a 4.25 ERA. The D-backs acquired him from Milwaukee in a six-player trade on Nov. 25, 2006, and he signed a three-year contract extension with Arizona on Jan. 19, 2007. Davis is 75-75 with a 4.34 ERA in 229 games in nine major-league seasons with Texas, Toronto, the Brewers and the D-backs.
Melvin said Edgar Gonzalez will join the rotation, and the team will re-evaluate the situation once Randy Johnson returns from the disabled list.
Inside pitch
● The D-backs named relievers Brandon Medders and Yusmeiro Petit to the team and optioned Jailen Peguero to Triple-A. Melvin was impressed with Peguero, but Petit can pitch longer outings.
