Jim Kelly announces he has cancer in upper jaw bone

Jim Kelly played quarterback for the Buffalo Bills for 11 seasons. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly revealed that he has cancer of the upper jaw bone in a statement made by the Bills on Monday morning.

In the statement, Kelly, 53, said he believes he'll make a full recovery. He has surgery scheduled for June 7. Earlier this week Kelly cancelled his appearance in the HyVee/Sanford Legends clinics in North Dakota.

From Buffalobills.com:

This past couple of weeks has been difficult for me and because of the nature of social media I thought it would be best to share with everyone what has been going on with my health. I was recently diagnosed with Squamous-cell carcinoma (cancer) of the upper jaw bone. I have undergone tests which have shown that the cancer is isolated to my upper jaw and has not spread to other parts of my body. Surgery is scheduled for June 7th and doctors have told me that the prognosis for my recovery is very good.

The Hall of Fame quarterback played 11 seasons for the Bills, throwing for 35,467 yards and 237 touchdowns over his career.