The former Mexican boxer Israel 'Magnífico' Vázquez has been diagnosed with stage 4 sarcoma, a type of advanced cancer that has given him little hope for survival. Israel Vázquez has suffered various medical issues since 2016, when he lost an eye due to poorly treated injuries after a fight against Rafael Márquez; but the most recent is a cancer diagnosis after experiencing pain in his leg, which he believed was due to his systemic sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune disease that hardens the skin.
"The doctor told us that, at most, he would have six months, but I cannot give up like that. We are already talking with a sarcoma specialist because the doctor who diagnosed him is not an expert in this type of cancer… we are going to go to another hospital," commented Laura Vázquez, the boxer's wife, to the Los Angeles Times.
According to the statements from 'El Magnífico's' wife, prior to his diagnosis, he had intense pain in his left leg, which led him to visit a doctor in Mexico City. "He walked to the airport and returned in a wheelchair… It was a very rapid deterioration. However, until that point, we did not know it was cancer."
According to the University of Navarra, sarcoma is a type of cancer that originates in connective tissue cells, including bones, muscles, fat, blood vessels, nerves, and tendons. Although tumors can arise in different parts of the body, they are more common in limbs such as the abdomen, legs, and chest.
According to the University Clinic, each sarcoma has different characteristics, and each subtype can have different behavior and evolution. According to the American Cancer Society, a sarcoma is considered stage 4 when it has spread to other organs, mainly the lungs. Sarcomas can be cured if the primary cancerous tumor and all areas of cancer spread (metastasis) can be removed in surgery.
According to the American Cancer Society, most sarcomas are detected by the appearance of a mass that grows over weeks or months. He had difficulty breathing and significant swelling in his legs, especially the left one, which caused him a lot of pain. Symptoms may include: abdominal pain, vomiting or presence of blood in the stool, black feces, indicative of blood in the stomach or intestines, bone pain, unexpected bone fractures. In the blink of an eye, his life changed completely. He needed a cane to walk.
