Perrot has brain tumor, lung cancer
Posted: Monday February 22, 1999 10:31 PM
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Perrot, a crowd favorite, has made about 100 public appearances in the Houston area to promote the WNBA. Elsa Hasch/Allsport |
HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Popular guard Kim Perrot of the two-time
defending WNBA champion Houston Comets developed a brain tumor
as a result of the spread of lung cancer.
Perrot, 32, revealed she has the disease Monday afternoon at an
emotional news conference.
"I've been undergoing a lot of tests for the last three weeks,"
Perrot said through tears. "On Friday, I was diagnosed with
lung cancer, which spread into my brain. On Wednesday, I'm
going to have surgery to remove one of the tumors. After that I
go through radiation. After that, I have to go through chemo."
Perrot initially noticed a weakness in her right arm. Doctors
at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston then found a "sizeable"
tumor in a corresponding part of the brain.
Doctors said the best treatment in her case is surgical removal
of the tumor, although there is some risk Perrot could lose
strength in the arm as a result. She will undergo two weeks of
radiation therapy followed by intravenous chemotherapy to treat
the lung cancer.
Perrot also has a series of smaller tumors in the brain, but
they are not putting her in immediate danger and can be reduced
through radiation. Because she is in excellent physical shape,
Perrot is at an advantage in treatment and will maintain a
fitness regimen throughout recovery.
"It was a shock to me, but I've accepted it and I will get
through it," she said. "I trust that the doctors are the best
and will take care of me.
"This has been a tough moment for me, but I've always had to
battle. And this is just another battle. I believe with all my
heart and faith in God that I will overcome this. My goal is to
be back on the basketball court doing what I've been doing the
last two years."
Perrot does not drink or smoke. A carcinoma, not lifestyle, was
the cause of the lung cancer.
A product of Southwestern Louisiana, Perrot was a guest of the
Rice Lady Owls on Sunday. She delivered a motivational speech
at halftime and spent 15 minutes signing autographs.
"When I do motivational speeches, I tend to forget about other
things," she said. "The fans love the Comets and they make it
easier for me."
Perrot helped Houston to its second straight championship on
September 1 and exited the Compaq Center to a chant of "We Want
Kim, We Want Kim!"
The 5-5 guard led the Comets in 1998 with 4.7 assists per game
and 85 steals as they compiled a 27-3 record, tops in the WNBA.
She averaged 8.5 points on 40 percent shooting (88-of-218) and
grabbed 3.1 rebounds per game.
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