Sox Announcer Remy Warns of Smoking As He Recovers

Jerry Remy , the well liked Red Sox television announcer, has taken an indefinite leave of absence from NESN to recover from lung cancer.

On his personal blog, Rem-Dog said:

“In November I had a very small, low-grade cancerous area removed from my lung. I was fortunate that it was discovered at an early stage. Except for the surgery, I required no additional treatments. I left the hospital with a clean bill of health.

Unfortunately, following the surgery, I developed a bad infection further compounded by a case of pneumonia. It was the pneumonia and the infection that set me back. This all happened just as I was leaving for spring training.

In hindsight, it was a mistake to go and I am paying the price for it now. As NESN announced, I am taking a leave of absence so that I can fully recover.”

NESN commentator and Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley will fill in for Remy with Don Orsillo until the former Sox second baseman recovers.

Remy, a longtime smoker, hoped that sharing the details of his condition “will emphasize the dangers of smoking to everyone, especially children.”

Information about how to quit smoking can be found at the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease’s Promising Practices website: http://promisingpractices.fightchronicdisease.org/programs/detail/freedom_from_smoking