Running back Brandon Bolden of the New England Patriots explains that he suffered from a form of skin cancer during the 2018 season and had to fear for his career for a long time.

Munich/Foxborough – New England Patriots running back Brandon Bolden has announced via his social media channels that he battled and beat cancer in 2018. The 31-year-old was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII.

Bolden subsequently underwent surgery and is now cancer-free, but had temporarily lost function in the right side of his face. Before announcing his diagnosis on Thursday, Bolden had not spoken publicly about his battle.

“It changed my perspective on a lot of things. I thought I was doing everything I could to prevent something like this from happening and then it did,” Bolden is quoted as saying on the team website:

“I had surgery and that was kind of my reset. I was able to redo everything and process how I’ve done everything in my life and now we’ve been, like I said, cancer-free for four years. “

Brandon Bolden played despite facial paralysis

The following year, Bolden signed with the Miami Dolphins and continued to play while his face recovered. There were moments, however, when he believed he would not play another game in the NFL.

“It took a lot. There was a lot of negative opinions from doctors and everything. I’m just here to prove people wrong to keep growing and getting stronger. “

Patriots running back Brandon Bolden revealed today that he had cancer surgery in 2018. He later told reporters there was a point he thought his career might be over. “I am here to prove people wrong and grow and get stronger,” he said. pic.twitter.com/y1Ze7NYmbp

– Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) December 30, 2021

Bolden said there was no particular reason for the timing of his announcement, but he had recently been reflecting on his recovery.

“I was talking to my son and my little brother about it. I looked in the mirror and thought, ‘I’ve got my whole face back’,” Bolden said:

“That’s what made me go through the pictures and everything, just to show that I had cancer and didn’t think I would be able to play another down. And here I am, four years later, having had surgery. I’m still working hard.”

Bolden has spent most of his career with the Patriots, winning two Super Bowls with the franchise. He is a key part of the special teams and also put up a career-best 540 scrimmage yards as a third-down back this season.