Colts coach Chuck Pagano’s doctors confirmed today that his cancer is in remission.
Pagano is back in the hospital today for another round of chemotherapy, and a bone marrow aspirate test did not detect any evidence of acute promyelocytic leukemia, his doctors told the Indianapolis Star.
That is the news Pagano wanted to hear, although doctors also made clear that being in remission is not the same thing as being cured.
“We need to keep going and we will not be able to use the word ‘cure’ for four or five years,” Pagano’s oncologist Dr. Larry Cripe said.
Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia in September and had been away from the Colts every day since then -- until Sunday, when he attended the Colts’ win over the Dolphins. Pagano will be away from the team again during his second course of chemotherapy, although doctors said the second course will not be as intense as the first.
Pagano’s doctors have said from the beginning that they expect him to make a complete recovery and return to coaching, although he is not expected to be back as the Colts’ head coach this year.