By John McClain
August 7, 2014 | Updated: August 7, 2014 12:06am
After a 10-month ordeal in which he battled two forms of cancer under an assumed name at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair has been given a clean bill of health by the team of doctors that treated him.
McNair's remarkable recovery has included ground-breaking experimental treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), painful surgery on the left side of his head and neck and 30 sessions of radiation, causing second-degree burns that required a plastic surgeon to perform skin grafts.
"I've never been through anything like that, but two days ago, I was given a clean bill of health, so it was worth the pain and suffering," McNair, 77, said Wednesday in his first public comments on his health issues. "I didn't think I was going to die. I knew some did. I knew there were some rumors. That's one of the reasons I'm talking about it.
"I don't want people to think it's something it's not. I'm not ill. I'm healthy. I'm not going anywhere. We've got Super Bowls to win."
Because McNair wanted to keep a low profile during radiation treatments at the M.D. Anderson Proton Therapy Center, CEO/Managing Director John Styles Jr., gave the Texans owner a key to the back door and allowed him to use his parking space.
Proton therapy is a relatively new form of radiation that delivers more precise and powerful doses. M.D. Anderson opened its center in 2005, a huge investment in the therapy, considered controversial because it is costly and unproven.
The radiation, lasting 30 to 40 minutes each, made second-degree burns on the side of McNair's face, causing Dr. Scott Oates to perform the plastic surgery.
"The radiation was worse by far," McNair said. "I had bandages all over my head. I looked like a mummy.
"On the side of my head and neck and down to my collarbone, I had second-degree burns. My skin blistered and peeled before it grew back. That was the worst part of it.
"The first three weeks was a cakewalk, but then it got pretty severe. Afterward, it was the peeling and healing. (Oates) did a great job. You've really got to search for (the scar) to find it."
Influential NFL owner
McNair, who is one of the most influential owners in the NFL as chairman of the league's finance committee, brought pro football back to Houston after a five-year absence when the Texans debuted in 2002. He also was the driving force behind luring the Super Bowl to Houston in 2004.
The Texans owner, whose net worth is estimated at $2 billion, made his fortune as chairman of the electricity cogeneration company Cogen Technologies before selling it in 1999. He now serves as chairman and chief executive officer of The McNair Group.
McNair has battled skin cancer for more than 20 years, but six years ago, he was diagnosed with CLL, a type of cancer of the blood that affects the immune system and typically grows more slowly than other forms of leukemia.
McNair began to fight for his life in October, with what he hoped would be routine surgery to treat
"They didn't get all of it," he said. "It recurred in December, and it became apparent the Squamous cancer cells had expanded and had gotten into one of my pituitary glands.
"It had gotten into the saliva gland that runs along the jawline. They did a biopsy and said they needed to do surgery and remove the gland."
McNair went to Dr. Randal Weber, chairman of head and neck surgery at M.D. Anderson. He underwent surgery on the left side of his head - from behind his ear, down his jaw line, to his neck and, finally, to his collarbone.
"There were a couple of lymph glands that had some cancer cells, and he removed them, too," McNair said. "He kept coming down until it was clean. Basically, he came all the way down to my collarbone."
But cancerous cells remained.
Dr. Michael Keating, professor, leukemia, at M.D. Anderson, put together a team, including Weber, Oates and Dr. David Rosenthal, professor, radiation oncology.
"They determined I should undergo radiation and chemotherapy to be on the safe side," McNair said. "That was the only way they could be sure they'd get rid of the skin cancer cells.
"In May, I had a CT scan and was clean at that point. And two days ago, I went in for a second checkup, and they did a second CT scan of my brain and neck and an X-ray of my chest, and everything's clean.
"We've been successful. I was convinced I'd be cured. I told my family that. It was just something I had to go through. We might have been overly aggressive, but I wanted to make sure we got rid of the cancer cells, and this was the way to do it. Otherwise, there might have been some doubt."
Experimental treatment
McNair may have only one more session with his experimental treatment called Pheresis, which involves the collection of white blood cells. "What I'm doing is experimental. I volunteered because we want to find a cure, and I told them if I was a good candidate to participate in a trial, then I wanted to do it.
"We're optimistic I'll be able to get rid of that, too. Dr. Keating is working with the genetics group at Baylor College of Medicine. They think they're close to having a cure for CLL."
McNair is deeply religious, and his faith has served him well.
"I used my time on the (radiation) table to pray for God's healing hand," he said. "The third week I felt God's presence. That was very reassuring."
McNair hopes his recovery will be an example to help others.
"It wasn't too long ago when you mentioned cancer, and people thought it was a death sentence, but I want people to know that's not the case," he said. "They have cures for certain forms of cancer, and there are some they're working on.
"If they get treatment early and listen to their doctor and follow their advice, they can get the same results and be cured. Don't be discouraged.
"Attack it. It's not going to be pleasant, but the battle can be won."
Congrats Mr. McNair! Here's to you continuing to be cancer free!
