Former South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia is currently fighting for his life after being diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer.
The diagnosis came after noticing some abnormalities, but the uncompromising former athlete thought he could solve the problems on his own, without consulting the doctor. His wife wasn’t comfortable with that plan from the quarterback, who was accustomed to taking snaps for a Steve Spurrier-led offense in Columbia.
Reluctantly, Garcia underwent a colonoscopy where doctors discovered the cancer and that it had been growing for several years.
Unfortunately, Stephen didn’t fully grasp the news when it was first given to him, as he was still somewhat groggy from the sedation.
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Stephen Garcia of the South Carolina Gamecocks looks to pass against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia on September 10, 2011. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
But when the seriousness of the situation was finally explained to him, reality set in quite quickly.
Obviously, it’s not easy to hear the word “cancer,” no matter what stage or form you’re dealing with. It will quickly humble you, with gloomy outlooks invading your mind.
And although this process of fighting the disease will be difficult and fraught with many obstacles, Garcia was most worried about his family.
While his oldest son understands the magnitude, he has yet to fully inform his youngest daughter, leading the former Gamecock to shed a few tears while discussing the situation with OutKick Friday morning.
Former Gamecock had a change of heart amid his battle with cancer
In the past, Stephen Garcia was not one to board the mental health awareness train, viewing him as someone who was not strong enough to handle the circumstances surrounding the battle he was facing.
But that’s Garcia’s football side, and he was the first to admit that his mindset had changed due to the stigma surrounding people, especially men, not feeling comfortable enough to discuss their struggles.
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This problem has led to many falls or problems that arise when one does not talk to others about what they are experiencing in times of trials and tribulations.
For Stephen, everything has changed.
“In years past, I thought mental health was an absolute joke, just to be completely honest with you,” Garcia told OutKick. “I was like, if you’re going to have some mental toughness, I played for Coach Spurrier so I had to have some mental toughness to deal with him. But I was also extremely tough-headed. It’s huge. There are going to be days when you won’t walk to talk to anyone, days when you want to give up, you have to stay mentally tough. This whole process opened my eyes to a whole other thing.
“People can change. I was against the whole mental health thing, I thought it was stupid. But it changed my opinion, my outlook on life in general, and I encourage everyone to talk about it in a positive way. It’s not a joke, you are where you think.
South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia throws a pass against Kentucky in the third quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC on October 3, 2009. South Carolina defeated Kentucky 28-26. (Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports)
The awareness has been overwhelming and a long battle lies ahead
After undergoing his first round of chemotherapy this week, Garcia is accepting the fight he faces, while maintaining a positive attitude for the sake of himself and his family. He will continue to train athletes, when his body allows, and use his platform to encourage others to take their health seriously.
If his wife hadn’t pushed him to get checked out, who knows how long it might have taken before his cancer was detected. In the meantime, the support system has been overwhelming, as Garcia described while holding back tears.
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Stephen Garcia of the South Carolina Gamecocks drops back to pass against the East Carolina Pirates at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on September 3, 2011. (Streter Lecka/Getty Images)
Whether it’s the Clemson football team, Dabo Swinney himself and the thousands of people who have reached out to him in recent days, the former quarterback hasn’t lost sight of how much support has meant to his own mental health during these uncertain times.
For now, Stephen Garcia is taking his fight against cancer one day at a time. But he also has college football fans rooting for him to beat this terrible disease.
