NFL Player’s Random Drug Test Leads to Cancer Diagnosis

An NFL player’s routine drug test led to a surprising medical diagnosis: testicular cancer.

Denver Broncos middle linebacker Alex Singleton announced his diagnosis to the public Monday. Singleton only found out after a drug test showed abnormalities later confirmed to be caused by his tumor. Despite the cancer, the Broncos captain still helped lead his team to victory just before he underwent surgery to remove it.

“I wrestled with sharing such personal information publicly. But the fact is, if it helps one person decide to pay closer attention to their body, then it is well worth it,†Singleton said in a social media post.

A fortuitous find

According to Singleton, the unexpected discovery of his cancer occurred a little over two weeks ago. He took a random drug test as part of the NFL’s drug testing program, which detected high levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin, or hCG.

hCG can be taken as a drug to counteract the side effects or to mask the use of other synthetic steroids, so its presence on a test can signal that an athlete is taking performance-enhancing substances. But certain medical conditions can also cause a spike in hCG, including cancer. Singleton was sure that he hadn’t taken anything externally that would raise his hCG, so he sought consultation from a urologist.

Last Monday, his doctor told him that he actually had signs of a testicular tumor. He immediately notified the Broncos and was quickly given an ultrasound, which confirmed the cancer.

On Thursday, Singleton and the Broncos triumphed in a 10 to 7 win over the Las Vegas Raiders—aided by Singleton’s nine tackles. The very next day, he underwent surgery to remove the tumor. This Monday, he finally told everyone else about his ordeal, starting with his teammates.

The importance of early detection

As a result of his treatment, Singleton will have to miss next week’s Broncos game. But with a bye the following week, it’s certainly possible that he could return to playing sooner rather than later. More importantly, his prognosis seems to be very good, thanks partly to how quickly his cancer was detected.

“Our No. 1 priority is Alex’s health and well-being, and we are grateful it appears the cancer was caught early,†the Broncos said in a statement on X.

Singleton, for his part, hopes his unusual story can illustrate the importance of getting regularly tested for cancer.

“Early detection and regular screening save lives and can save loved ones from a lot of grief,†he said.