The cancer was discovered last month after the former Padres star had a third round of surgery since 1997 to remove a tumor on the parotid gland, according to the report.
"I had surgery for a parotid tumor in 1997 and again three years ago and both those times there was no cancer," Gwynn, 50, told the paper. "But this time they found a malignancy. They took out three lymph nodes and did all the tests and the results showed cancer in the parotid.
"The doctors have told me they feel they caught the cancer early and there was not much of it there."
The parotid is a salivary gland that pumps saliva into the mouth. Parotid tumors can result in facial nerve disorders.
Gwynn said he plans to return as San Diego State's baseball coach. Gwynn has been the head coach at his alma mater since 2003.
"They say this is a slow moving but aggressive form of cancer," Gwynn said. "I'm going to be aggressive and not slow moving in treating this."
Gwynn said he faces seven to eight weeks of five-day-a-week radiation treatments and once-a-week chemotherapy treatments.
"I go in Monday for a consultation and I hope to immediately begin the treatments," said Gwynn, who became a first-ballot inductee into baseball's Hall of Fame in 2007 after getting 3,141 hits and recording a lifetime .338 batting average in 20 seasons with the Padres.
Gwynn went to Houston last week to visit the MD Anderson Cancer Center for a second opinion and to discuss treatment options.
"You hope the second doctor will say, 'Nah, they got it all wrong,' but they confirmed what I really knew," joked Gwynn, who expressed a wide range of emotions Friday while discussing his cancer.
The parotid cancer is on the right side of his face from the bottom of his ear to the chin. Gwynn, who won a National League record-tying eight batting championships and was named to the All-Star Game 16 times, is concerned that the cancer could be linked to his career-long practice of using chewing tobacco.
"I haven't discussed that with the doctors yet, but I'm thinking it's related to dipping," said Gwynn, who resumed the practice of using chewing tobacco after the first two surgeries.
Gwynn is one of 17 players in major league history to spend an entire career of 20 or more seasons with one team.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tony Gwynn has always been among Major League Baseball's class acts throughout his entire career. My best wishes to Tony for a quick & successful recovery.
Wow as a padres and Gywnn fan I never knew he dipped. Never saw that Lenny Dykstra boulge in his mouth. Get well Tony
FYI, the record for the longest career with a single MLB team is 23 years, shared by Brooks Robinson (Orioles, 1955-77) and Carl Yastrzemski(Red Sox, 1961-83).
My best wishes to tony as he fights this disease. It seems very familiar to hall of fame umpire doug harveys fight with cancer that he attributeds to chewing tobacco. Best wishes to both tony and doug.
Best of luck to Tony Gwynn. He was and remains a class act all the way.
You are a class act Tony our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
wishing Tony a recovery and long life. i have always admired tony gwynn. a true sportsman and san diegan
This is sad to hear about, but I know Tony will battle through this like he always has and get through it. I have had the pleasure of meeting Tony a couple of times. Once playing a game of pickup basketball,(a great player at that as well) and at the San Diego School of Baseball batting cage. He saw me struggling in the cage, came up and spent a few minutes of observing and showing how to improve my swing physically and mentally. It was an unforgetable encounter. Thanks T.
PS. Really, Come on, Really The Real Howard S? You read this story and all you can write about is who the 2 players at top of the all time list are? No shout out or anything for T. Gwynn? Thanks, at least I will be able to sleep better knowing that. At least you know whats important.
I hope after meeting the man back in 1987, that all goes well for him, he is the most class act player that I have ever met or known. Heres hoping for you Tony!
Best of luck to a great ball player and a great person.
Good luck Tony my prayers are with you
Shocked to hear this. I didn’t even know he chewed. There are so many guys who just use that little pinch and you don’t see it. Not like the guys who put a big handful mixture of bubble gum and tobacco.
He’s got such a nice speaking voice, too. “You can beat this Tony.”
Can you name any professional ball player more liked? It's impressive that he recognizes the possible connection between this and chewing tabacco. I wish I had the ability to make it go away.
Wow, what a shocker. man had glutes like a Clydesdale.
Why does there always have to be one ass in the bunch? Did you really think what you wrote was funny? Well let me be the first to break your ignorant, self-centered bubble you moron!
I just pray that you never have to face a life-threatening diagnosis. Even a jerk like you has someone in his/her life that will miss you.
Tony, my prayers are with you and your family. God will get you through this!
I HOPE FOR THE BEST FOR YOU . YOU ARE ONE OF THE GOOD GUY .
Tony I know you will beat this. You were always a class act. To bad you did not play for my Red Sox!!
Please pray for Tony Gwynn- a breath of fresh air in today's world.
Tony - Best wishes to you and a very quick and successful recovery. Thank you for all those years of getting to watch one of the best players ever to play the game. One of the most memorable times of my life was watching you in Cooperstown standing next to Cal (and the storm never arrived).
One of your life long fans!
Mike Bojorquez
Truckdrivinfool you win Azzhole of the year award !!!