January 16, 2009
Lucia Says Diagnosis Elusive, Cancer Ruled Out
CHN Staff Report
MINNEAPOLIS — A diagnosis for the illness currently ailing Minnesota coach Don Lucia remains elusive, but doctors have ruled out 80 to 90 percent of the possibilities, Lucia revealed Thursday during a news conference at Mariucci Arena to discuss his ongoing health battle.
Lucia, who began experiencing numbness in his face and severe headaches over the holidays, said he believes that doctors are very close to prescribing a course of treatment, but that he will undergo more tests early next week to help determine what is putting pressure on the trigeminal nerve and causing his symptoms.
“It’s been a process of elimination to this point,” Lucia said. “I’m making the doctors do their work. I have been on some medication and the headaches aren’t nearly what they were.”
Lucia indicated that doctors have ruled out a number of possibilities, including cancer, and that he is eager to begin a course of treatment that will remedy the problem.
“It isn’t lymphoma so now they are down to two things ... an infection or inflammation, he said. “They have a good idea what it is, but it’s one of those things where you almost have to prove that it’s not (something else) and therefore it has to be this. I’m hoping to get to that point by the middle of next week.”
Lucia also revealed that he will be back behind the bench for this weekend’s series against St. Cloud State. He has missed the Gophers’ first four games since the holidays, including last weekend’s series at North Dakota.
“I’m grateful for all the emails, calls and cards that I have received from all over," said the 50-year old two-time national championship coach. "I feel fortunate to have access to great facilities and great doctors and they find out exactly what it is and take care of it so that the symptoms can go away.
“It’s been a long process, but in many ways it’s been a short process because I’ve been able to get in and see the doctors at a pretty rapid rate.”
Lucia is in his 22nd season as a collegiate head coach and his 10th season at Minnesota.
"The fatigue is from the different meds I'm on as much as anything else," Lucia told the paper. Lucia said he's undergone MRIs, CT scans and a spinal tap, among other things.
"I just want to know what it is and start treatment."
