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Gophers placeholder Casey O'Brien to have surgery to remove spot on lung

The four-time cancer survivor said on social media that doctors found a small spot in one of his lungs today while he was in for his three-month scan.
Credit: AP
Minnesota Golden Gophers punter Casey O'Brien (14) holds the ball for an extra point kick during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Rutgers Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Sarah Stier)

MINNEAPOLIS — Casey O'Brien, the Minnesota Gophers placeholder who beat cancer four times, posted that he will be undergoing a surgery this week to have a spot removed in one of his lungs.

The redshirt sophomore said on social media that doctors found a small spot on his lungs today while he was in for his three-month scan.

O'Brien, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma when he was a freshman at Certin-Derham Hall, played in his first game as a Gopher earlier this season, but it's been his journey that's perhaps had the biggest impact.

After making his collegiate debut, O'Brien shared his story as a four-time cancer survivor on the Big Ten Network, and has since become a role model for people across the nation.

O'Brien said on his Twitter page that's he ready to go 1-0 in the surgery season, a reference to the Gophers' mantra this year of week-to-week seasons, and ended it with the hashtag #5x.

An outpouring of support has flooded his comments as people from all over the nation, including from Hall-of-Fame sports broadcaster Dick Vitale.

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