Burns's battle

by James Mirtle on Jan 23, 2009 10:47 AM CST Comment 8 comments

"I went through the depression, the blaming, the anger, the why me? I don't want to do that anymore. Sooner or later, that has to stop. If not, there really is no purpose to living anymore. I realized I wanted to enjoy the time that I do have. And that's what I'm doing."

– former NHL coach Pat Burns on fighting cancer

It's a horrible situation, and all you can do is wish him well.

Burns, 56, has been diagnosed with cancer a third time, and this round started with spots on both lungs. After undergoing two rounds of treatment, he's decided to spend the rest of his life living instead of making trips to the hospital.

He is an incredible story, a police officer from Hull, Quebec, who worked his way up to coach of the Habs. Burns won the Jack Adams in his first season, becoming the first rookie coach to do so, and would go on to stints with two other Original Six teams (Toronto and Boston) before finally winning the Cup in New Jersey. He was named top coach three times, the only bench boss to do so, and has a lifetime record of 501-350-175.

Good luck, Pat.

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Ditto the best wishes for Pat and his family.

by Fauxrumors on Jan 23, 2009 11:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I’m happy that he’s committed to continuing to live his life. It’s how my father approached his battle with cancer — he was raring to go back to work mere weeks before he died — and I respect Pat tremendously for it. He’s lived a hell of a life, and I hope he continues to do so.

Good luck, Pat, and have fun.

by Doogie2K on Jan 23, 2009 11:49 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

My favorite Pat Burns image
http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/2090447.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1934A2752006EF5F0ED0C95EF2C914587685A5397277B4DC33E

May the hockey Gods look upon Pat with favor.

If cancer was a person I’d be posting this from jail where I’d be doing a life sentence.

by cubanpuckstopper on Jan 23, 2009 12:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Great photo.

Always loved Burnsy when he was with the Devils. I wish him the best of luck.

by onetimer on Jan 23, 2009 2:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If cancer was a person I’d be posting this from jail where I’d be doing a life sentence.

You’d have a lot of company. I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t know a person touched by cancer. For all the research that has been done, for all doctors know about genetics and environmental triggers and how to treat it, for all that people know about how to eat right and exercise and avoid smoking to minimize the risk of getting cancer, there is an element of randomness to cancer that makes it terrifying. One person can smoke their entire lives and die of old age at 97 – and someone else can get lung cancer despite doing everything right.

Just the idea that it’s not a bacterium or a virus or parasite, something “other,” but your own cells going haywire – creepy.

Good luck, coach.

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Jan 23, 2009 1:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

So well put, Baroque. Frightening and random.

Wishing the best of luck and quality of life for Mr. Burns…

Lighthouse Hockey: an SB Nation New York Islanders blog with hip issues.

by Dominik on Jan 23, 2009 1:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, it is sometimes a virus, though it is rare. My dad’s stomach cancer was caused by the HP virus, which is more commonly implicated in cervical cancer.

by Doogie2K on Jan 23, 2009 3:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs