Cancer treatment just part of his day

The stats say this Lions employee should be dead. But the man who won Detroit's Ed Block Courage Award is still working while giving his disease more than it can handle.

By Mark Craig, Star Tribune

Last update: December 5, 2006 - 11:30 PM

Ricky Sandoval was in Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit on Monday morning when his cell phone rang.

"I can't talk right now," said Sandoval, the Detroit Lions director of security. "I'm getting chemo. But call me at work tomorrow. After 9 o'clock."

At 9:01 a.m. Tuesday, the phone rang on this end.

"Yeah, it's Rick," Sandoval said. "Sorry about that. They give me Benadryl when I get my chemotherapy. The stuff knocks you loopy. So I was dazed and dozed when you called."

How does somebody respond to that? "No, no. I'm sorry for bothering you" sounded right. And then a sheepish, "Why did you have your cell phone on?" sneaked out.

"Work-related emergencies," Sandoval said.

Like all NFL security directors, a big part of Sandoval's job is dealing with off-the-field issues involving players and coaches. If you follow the news, then you realize it's pretty much a 24/7 job.

"The old adage is, 'Coaches coach and players play,' " Sandoval said. "It's my job to make sure that's all they do."

Sandoval is upbeat, uplifting, inspirational. And still alive despite an Internet full of statistics that say he should have died before Nov. 30.

On May 30, he was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer. Sandoval, 46, and his wife, Gael, quickly studied the disease and discovered that the survival rate of at least five years is less than 4 percent. Most patients die within three to six months.

"The heck with that," Sandoval said. "I'm not going to die because a number on a piece of paper tells me it's time. I'll die when the good Lord says it's time, or my body gives out trying."

Sandoval finished his second 12-week cycle Monday and will start his third cycle next Monday. He receives chemotherapy every Monday and every other Tuesday.

"The weeks I get it only once a week, that's when I hit the treadmill and get a lift in," Sandoval said. "I know the other week, I'm going to be pretty wiped out."

Vikings running back Artose Pinner was with Detroit in May when Sandoval was diagnosed. Although the Lions' record might not indicate it -- they are 2-10 heading into Sunday's game against the Vikings at Ford Field -- Pinner said players were inspired by Sandoval's positive attitude.

"Right after he got diagnosed, I went to the facility to work out at 5:45 in the morning," Pinner said. "Ricky had been on the treadmill since 5."

In October, the Lions honored Sandoval with their Ed Block Courage Award, which every team does to recognize men of courage. It was the first time the Lions' award went to someone other than a player.

"A lot of people say to me, 'What are you doing still working?' " Sandoval said. "And I tell them, 'They're paying me to work, aren't they?' "

Sandoval is a large man at 6-4 and 300 pounds. He has lost about 70 pounds, but he's not complaining. Never.

"I tell them every week at the hospital, 'Double my doses,' " Sandoval said. "But they tell me, 'We can't give you anymore because if we did, the chemo would kill you.' "

Thanks to Sandoval's computer-savvy nephew, those who would like to write to Sandoval, or are just interested in his progress, can go to www.rickysvictory.com.

"I had my third CT scan on Monday and I should know something [today]," Sandoval said. "The other two, we got good news. If this one is good news, great. If it's bad news, I'll fight harder. I have too much to do to die right now."

Mark Craig • mcraig@startribune.com