Son: Paterno handling cancer treatments well

Published Nov. 26, 2011 9:14 p.m. ET

foxsports

Penn State assistant coach Jay Paterno says his father is handling lung cancer treatments ''very well.''

Former Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno was diagnosed with a treatable form of lung cancer during a follow-up visit for a bronchial illness earlier this month. After Saturday's 45-7 loss at Wisconsin, Jay Paterno said his father is ''going through treatments'' and ''handling it very well.''

The family has requested privacy, saying doctors are optimistic the 84-year-old Paterno will make a full recovery.

School trustees fired Joe Paterno on Nov. 9 in the aftermath of child sex abuse charges against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.