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 certain abnormalities, but the tough former athlete thought he could solve the problems on his own without having to visit doctors. His wife was not comfortable with that plan for the quarterback, who often took snaps for an offense led by Steve Spurrier in Columbia.
Reluctantly, Garcia underwent a colonoscopy, where doctors discovered that the cancer had been growing for several years.
Unfortunately, Stephen didn’t fully understand the news when it was first given to him, as he was still somewhat dazed from the sedation.
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Stephen Garcia of the South Carolina Gamecocks attempts 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, the reality became apparent rather quickly.
Obviously, there is nothing simple about hearing the word “cancer,” no matter what stage or form it is being treated. It will quickly humble you, and the gloomy outlook will take over your mind.
And while this process to combat the disease will be tough and full of many obstacles, García was most worried about his family.
While his oldest son understands the magnitude, he has not yet fully informed his youngest daughter, prompting the former Gamecock to shed a few tears while discussing the situation with OutKick on Friday morning.
The former Gamecock has changed his mind amid his battle with cancer.
In the past, Stephen Garcia was not one to jump on the mental health awareness bandwagon, seeing him as someone who was not strong enough to handle the circumstances surrounding any battle they faced.
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, mainly men, who don’t feel comfortable enough to talk about their struggles.
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This problem has led to many downfalls, or problems that arise from not talking to others about what they are going through in times of trials and tribulations.
For Stephen, all that has changed.
“In years past, I thought mental health was an absolute joke, to be completely honest,” Garcia told OutKick. “I thought, if you have to have some mental toughness, I played for Coach Spurrier, so I had to have some mental toughness to deal with him. But he was also extremely stubborn. It’s huge. There will be days when you won’t walk to talk to anyone, days when you’ll want to give up, you have to stay mentally strong. This whole process has opened my eyes to a completely different deal.
“People can change. I was against the whole mental health thing, I thought it was stupid. But it’s changed my opinion, my perspective on life in general, and I encourage everyone to talk about it. I’ve had a lot of people come up to me and say if you need to talk, contact me. They all said the same thing: you have to be mentally in it. If you’re mentally positive, you’ll get through it. If you’re feeling down, find a way to be positive. It’s no joke, you’re 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 scope has been overwhelming, with a long battle ahead
After undergoing his first round of chemotherapy this week, Garcia is taking on the battle he faces, although he maintains 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 it weren’t for his wife pressuring him to get tested, who knows how long it might have been before his cancer was noticed. Meanwhile, 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. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Whether it’s the Clemson football team, or Dabo Swinney himself, and the thousands of people who have reached out in recent days, it’s not lost on the former quarterback how much support has meant to his own sanity during uncertain times.
For now, Stephen García is facing his battle against cancer day by day. But he also has college football fans rooting for him to beat this terrible disease.
