U of R President to be treated for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

The President of the University of Rochester revealed today that he has been diagnosed with cancer.

Joel Seligman sent a letter out to the University of Rochester community saying he has Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Seligman says he met with his physician after finding a lump on his neck. After many tests doctors concluded that the disease is localized in a single location on the right side of his neck and can be characterized as “early onset” or “stage one” lymphoma and is curable. Treatment will involve three or four chemotherapy sessions over three week intervals and Seligman will also receive radiation therapy as well.

Seligman says before he undergoes treatment he will receive a second opinion at Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York City, where he will go through a few more tests including a bone marrow biopsy.

Seligman says he wanted to be open with his co-workers about his diagnosis as well as take away some of the "stigma" associated with cancer diagnoses.

"If I can do a little bit to encourage people not to treat someone like cancer as a 'terrible victim' or phyrraia. Understand that these are still your friends and loved ones and people you'll be working with, and an extrodinary number have been cured, I think that's a useful thing to do."