Shawn Walsh to seek new cancer treatments Tumors continue to be present

Shawn Walsh, the University of Maine men’s hockey coach, will seek other forms of cancer treatments after a pair of tests revealed that the two 20-day immunotherapy treatments he underwent at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles did not eliminate the cancerous tumors under his breastplate.

A Computerized Axial Tomography scan (CAT scan) and a Positron Emission Tomography scan (PET scan) showed that the tumors still exist.

“We want to be as aggressive as possible in treating these tumors,” said Walsh in a press release. “We are exploring different treatment options to eliminate these tumors. No definite path has been set yet. As soon as we have chosen a treatment option, I will make that information public.

“I feel strong, and have been able to maintain my normal work schedule. My doctors and I are optimistic about the treatment options now available,” added Walsh.

One such treatment is a new vaccine that was featured on the front page of the Boston Herald recently.

According to a German study, the vaccine completely destroyed cancerous tumors in some patients with advance forms of kidney cancer and shrunk tumors in other patients.

A persistent cough led to the diagnosis of Walsh’s cancer in June and he had his left kidney removed at the Boston Medical Center on July 7.

He underwent his immunotherapy treatments in August and early October and he coached the team in between.

Less than a week after his final immunotherapy treatment, he returned to the bench for Maine’s 3-2 overtime loss to Ohio State on Oct. 27.

He did suffer numerous side affects from the immunotherapy including diarrhea, fatigue, nausea and dry skin.

Walsh has appealed to the media to refrain from asking him, his family or his players about his health.

Dr. Robert Figlin, Walsh’s doctor in California and a kidney cancer expert, preferred not to comment on Walsh’s options out of respect for Walsh’s wishes.

The 45-year-old Walsh has led the Bears to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, seven Frozen Fours and two national championships during his 17 years at Maine.

His 389-212-43 record ranks him 11th among active coaches and 24th all-time in coaching wins.

Jersey auction nets $11,055

The auction of 20 University of North Dakota hockey jerseys with Maine coach Shawn Walsh’s name of their backs raised $11,055 for the Coaches Foundation.

The foundation was established to help Walsh and other college hockey coaches and their families fight the medical costs associated with serious illnesses or injuries.

The winning bids for the jerseys ranged from $275 to $1,250.

Walsh was ecstatic with the $11,055 and said “I hope the foundation can continue to grow like the Jimmy V [Valvano] Foundation [for college basketball] has.”

The latest member of the hockey community to suffer a serious illness is Mary Beth Blais, 16-year-old daughter of North Dakota coach Dean Blais.

She has Burkitt’s, which is a form of leukemia that affects young children and adolescents.

She is undergoing chemotherapy at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

Anyone wishing to write to Blais can do so at the University of North Dakota, Box 9013, Grand Forks, N.D., 58202-9013.

Another item being auctioned off for the Coaches Foundation is a line chart autographed by 20 members of the University of Maine’s 1992-93 national championship team. It isn’t in perfect condition but it does contain the 20 signatures and among those are Paul Kariya, Jim Montgomery, Peter and Chris Ferraro, Cal Ingraham, Chris Imes, Mike Dunham, Garth Snow and the late Lee Saunders.

The lineup came from Maine’s 5-2 win over New Hampshire at Snively Arena in Durham, N.H., on Jan. 29, 1993.

Bids, starting at $50, will be accepted from 9 a.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Friday. Bids should be submitted to info@sportdesigns.com.