LA JOLLA (CNS) - San Diego baseball icon Tony Gwynn was resting comfortably at UC San Diego's Thornton Hospital Wednesday after surgery for a cancerous tumor in his cheek, the hospital said.
Initial indications are that the cancer has not spread, but because the nerve that controls movement on the right side of his face had to be removed in the operation Gwynn had Tuesday, the Hall of Famer might not regain function in that area for 18 months, according to a statement from the hospital.
Gwynn, who had cancer surgery in the same spot in August 2010, has said he chewed smokeless tobacco throughout his 20-year career with the Padres, and for many years after, and blames the substance for his condition. He has been the head coach at San Diego State University since his playing days ended.
The hospital's statement said Gwynn was "in good spirits," but it was too early to forecast the outcome of the procedure.
The hospital said doctors had to remove the cancerous growth and nearby scar tissue from previous treatments. The tumor was intertwined with a main facial nerve, which also had to be taken out.
A nerve from his neck was then grafted onto the remaining branches of the facial nerve. The surgery was completed with reconstruction of the area where the tumor was removed, according to the statement.
