Former Scarlet Knight and NFL Quarterback Ray Lucas Returns to Rutgers to Talk to Cancer Survivors

Thursday's event at the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center is designed to offer support for male cancer patients and caregivers

Rutgers Hall of Fame quarterback Ray Lucas was playing for the Miami Dolphins when he found out his father had lung cancer.

"For me to feel so helpless-here I am a big NFL player, I was mushed; I was crushed; I was frightened," recalled Lucas. "I was a lot of different emotions and most of the time, all those emotions went to anger."

Lucas-who played seven seasons for the NFL from 1996-2002 including four with the New York Jets-helped his father get appointments with specialists soon after his cancer diagnosis. Thomas Lucas had portions of his lungs removed, but he survived and will celebrate his 80th birthday this Saturday.

"These people at all these different places saved my father, and I've had him for another 30 years," he said.

On June 11, Ray Lucas will join other former NFL players in New Brunswick for a community conversation on surviving cancer. The event at the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, New Jersey's only freestanding cancer hospital, brings together male cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers for support.

Doctors from RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, New Jersey's only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, will share their expertise and engage with the attendees, along with Lucas and other former NFL greats. The forum is designed to encourage survivors to share their experiences, discuss challenges, foster connections, and learn of available resources.

"Men don't need to be afraid anymore. We have these doctors who are amazing and science has come so far," said Lucas, who was inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.

The listening session is part of the NFL Alumni Association's GEAR UP Against Cancer campaign to increase public awareness on cancer prevention. Registration for the event is open.

Others scheduled to appear on Thursday are former Giants Super Bowl champion offensive lineman Roman Oben; former Giants Super Bowl MVP and champion running back Ottis "OJ" Anderson; and former Jets All-Pro, Pro Bowl fullback Tony Richardson. Cancer survivors and caretakers who attend will have an opportunity to meet and interact with the former players and listen to their personal stories

"As former professional athletes, we learned early that preparation saves you when the pressure is highest. Taking care of your health is no different-you need a game plan," said Oben, who is also the president of the New York/New Jersey chapter of NFL Alumni. "Understanding your risks, knowing when to get screened, and taking action before symptoms appear can be lifesaving."

When Oben reached out to him asking him to participate in the event, Lucas said he immediately accepted.

"I said 'I'm in,' because I could relate," Lucas said. "I know how I am as a man. Unless something is falling off my body, I'm not going to the doctors. I'll push through; I'll deal with the pain. We're not built to show weakness."

"We're excited to provide this special opportunity for our clinicians, survivors, and the NFL Alumni to come together and have a meaningful discussion about dealing with cancer," said Evens, deputy director for clinical services and chief physician officer at Rutgers Cancer Institute/Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, and system director of medical oncology, RWJBarnabas Health. "Here at the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, we pride ourselves on providing world-class care, but equally important is making sure you have a community surrounding you to provide support throughout your cancer journey. This listening session offers just that."

Lucas said it's important for cancer patients to talk about their journey in forums like these to share resources and give others hope. "It's beatable. Period, plain and simple. That hope,'' Lucas said. "It's not always going to come out the way you want it to come out, but cancer is beatable."