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University of Minnesota Athletics
Under the Helmet: Alex Keith
10/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
You have cancer.
Those are three daunting words that have affected millions of families and households around the country.
However, according to the National Cancer Institute, the number of people to live beyond a cancer diagnosis reached nearly 14.5 million. Alex Keith, senior defensive lineman, has etched his name in that total.
It all began during Keith's sophomore year of high school. After suffering from bad allergies, he noticed a lump on his neck.
"I've had allergies my whole life growing up," said Keith. "I had [a bump] on my neck and it kept getting bigger, but [my family and I] just figured it was a lymph node. My lymph nodes are always swollen because of my allergies. We went to an ear, nose and throat doctor in order to check it out. We went and did a biopsy around 10 times and the doctors could never pinpoint or say exactly what it was."
It was then that Keith and his family got the news: he had a cancerous tumor.
"It was stressful to hear that I could have cancer, but I just blocked it out of my mind and knew I was going to be fine."
Keith was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC), which is an uncommon form of malignant neoplasm that arises within secretory glands, most commonly the major and minor salivary glands of the head and neck.
Though ACC has a relatively high survival rate of 89%, it can become highly fatal if it spreads to a larger area. Thankfully for Keith, it was contained.
"The cancer never spread, so I know I didn't have it for long. It just stayed in my neck for about six months."
Keith had surgery on his neck right away and the surgeons were able to remove the tumor. He and his family had the option for radiation treatment, but that was something that was out of the question for Keith.
Once he successfully made it out of surgery, Keith was visited by those who cared about him the most.
"A lot of people came to see me after my surgery. The whole basketball team, all my friends and the people I grew up with came. My coaches came, too, and that was pretty cool."
The procedure was done after the football season had come to a close, but Keith was forced to miss some time on the basketball court.
"I got surgery on it during basketball season, so I had to sit out. I was only out for two weeks in order to wait for everything to heal up."
Keith showed his uncanny toughness by returning to the court just 14 days following his operation.
"Once the cut was healed, I was right back in there."
Keith's recruitment process by Minnesota was never in danger despite battling through the rigors of that of a cancer patient. In fact, Keith was sure the coaching staff was unaware of what he went through.
"I'm not sure anyone knew about it until I told Coach Kill when I arrived on campus."
The Columbia, Mo. native shrugged off all of the negative connotations associated with being diagnosed with cancer and maintained an optimistic approach when dealing his high school daily life.
"The cancer really only affected my parents more than it affected me. I never really thought anything of it and knew I was just going to be fine."
Despite not having a history of it in the family, Keith's survival of ACC and cancer in general is unique in that he never let a day go by without being thankful and continued to shed a positive light on those who have also been affected by the disease.
"I can definitely relate because I went through the same thing. I definitely sympathize with those who have cancer now."
It's been six years since his procedure and Keith can now say he is in remission, though he still thinks about it a lot.
"I'm in remission right now. After the bowl game (Citrus Bowl last season), was when I first could say that. I think about it all the time because I have to check to see that my body is still doing fine."
His body has been just that and more as the senior has been an impact player for one of the nation's top defenses. Keith has amassed 63 tackles, including 13 tackles-for-loss, five sacks and three fumble recoveries.
"Alex Keith loves the game of football and it shows when he is on the football field," said defensive line coach Jeff Phelps. "He competes hard and flies around to make plays. He's very passionate when he plays the game."
Just a few years ago, Keith's life could have gone in a completely different direction. After an early detection and successful surgery, his years have been as normal as he could've hoped for.
"I was lucky."
After Keith has contributed for four years on a disrupting defensive front, Minnesota can say it was pretty lucky, too.
