Public figure
What Anthony Rizzo's Story Can Teach Us About Hodgkin Lymphoma
Diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at 18, the future All-Star recovered and built a foundation to help families facing cancer. Here is what his story can help us understand.
Please note: this page is educational only — it is not medical advice, and it does not speculate about anyone’s health beyond reliable public reporting. For questions about your own health, talk with your healthcare team.
On screen
Before Anthony Rizzo became a three-time All-Star and a beloved figure of the Chicago Cubs' 2016 championship team, he was an 18-year-old minor leaguer facing news no teenager expects. In 2008, Rizzo was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. He went through about six months of chemotherapy and was declared in remission in September of that year — then went on to build one of the most successful baseball careers of his generation.
Rizzo turned the experience outward. The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, which began its work in 2012, raises money for cancer research and supports children with cancer and their families, including the financial strain that a diagnosis puts on a household — something his own family understood firsthand. He has personally funded programs for teenage patients at the cancer center where he was treated. We share only what he has chosen to make public.
The reality
According to the National Cancer Institute, lymphoma is cancer that begins in cells of the lymph system — the vessels, nodes, and organs that help protect the body from infection. The two main types are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and NCI notes that Hodgkin lymphoma can often be cured. NCI lists being in early adulthood among the factors that can increase risk — Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the cancers that notably affects young people, which is part of why Rizzo's story resonates. Signs and symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, drenching night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue.
What the story gets right — and what to remember
Rizzo's experience reflects the encouraging reality NCI describes — Hodgkin lymphoma is often curable, even though treatment itself is demanding. His story also highlights something cancer statistics do not capture: the financial and emotional weight on families, which his foundation exists to ease. As always, one person's diagnosis and recovery do not predict another's. The type of lymphoma, its stage, and each person's response to treatment differ, and an athlete's story is inspiration, not medical advice.
Awareness, screening & prevention
The National Cancer Institute states that it does not have evidence-based information about screening or prevention for lymphoma — there is no routine test for people without symptoms. Awareness is the realistic tool, especially for young adults who may not imagine cancer applies to them: persistent swollen lymph nodes, unexplained fever, drenching night sweats, weight loss, or lasting fatigue deserve a conversation with a healthcare professional. And staying engaged with routine care pays off across the board — our free screening check-up tool can show you in a couple of minutes which cancer screenings fit your age and history.
Turning a story into something useful
Rizzo has spent his adult life making sure families facing cancer feel less alone than his did. Most of us cannot fund hospital programs, but we can learn what lymphoma is, know the symptoms worth mentioning, and check in on the people in our lives who are going through treatment. Sharing accurate information — and supporting free cancer education — is a way anyone can play on that team.
Questions to ask a healthcare team
- What symptoms in a young adult could suggest lymphoma?
- How is Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed, and what do the stages mean?
- What support exists for the practical and financial side of treatment?
- What does survivorship care look like after lymphoma treatment at a young age?