Curt Schilling blames oral cancer battle on use of chewing tobacco

Former major-league right-hander Curt Schilling told WEEI Radio that his recent battle with oral cancer was caused by his use of chewing tobacco during his playing career.

The 47-year-old Schilling said he used chewing tobacco for more than 30 years.

"I'll go to my grave believing that was why I got what I got," Schilling told WEEI. "Absolutely. No question in my mind about that. ... I do believe without a doubt, unquestionably, that chewing is what gave me cancer."

Schilling's cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) is in remission following treatment earlier this year.

"This all came about from a dog bite," Schilling told WEEI. "I got bitten by a dog and I had some damage to my finger and I went to see a doctor. And the day I went to see the doctor, I was driving and I went to rub my neck and I felt a lump on the left side of my neck. I knew immediately it wasn't normal. There happened to be an ENT [ear, nose and throat specialist] right next door to the hand doctor. I thought, 'What the heck, let me just stop in and see.' So I waited in the office, went in there and he did a biopsy. Two days later, he diagnosed me with squamous cell carcinoma."

Schilling, who last pitched in the majors in 2007, went 216-146 with a 3.46 ERA and 3,116 strikeouts in his 20-year major-league career. The six-time All-Star was named the 2001 World Series MVP with the Arizona Diamondbacks and also won the 2004 and 2007 World Series with the Boston Red Sox.