Carlos Morales, a veteran basketball coach and executive, announced he is in remission from throat cancer after a months-long battle. The news comes as a relief to those in the Puerto Rican basketball community who have long admired Morales’ contributions to the sport.
Morales, 67, revealed he was diagnosed with the illness in January of last year and underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment. “I had throat cancer last year, but thank God I’ve been cancer-free since August,” Morales said in a phone interview from Los Angeles, California. He added that he lost a significant amount of weight during treatment, dropping from 230 pounds to 160, but has since regained some, now weighing 170 pounds.
Treatment continued through June. Morales was able to travel for his son’s wedding shortly after, and a follow-up appointment in August confirmed the positive news. “After that, I went on a trip because my son was getting married and, when I returned in August, I went to the follow-up appointment and, thank God, I was totally cancer-free,” he continued.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, throat cancer often doesn’t present immediate symptoms, and when they do appear, they can mimic less serious conditions like a sore throat or ear pain. Tumors typically develop in the middle or upper parts of the throat.
Morales stated he is currently in good health and will continue to undergo medical evaluations every six months. His most recent check-up, two weeks ago, showed positive results. “Thank God, everything is fine,” he said. “I thank those who were praying and others. I didn’t publish it, but I thank those who knew and communicated. Thank the Lord, we are well.”
Morales has had a distinguished career as a coach for the National Team and the National Superior Basketball League (BSN). He currently works as a coach at The Academy of Central Florida – an institution co-founded by his son and Richie Dalmau – and as an NBA commentator for Amazon Prime.
