Aspiring Chula Vista professional soccer player Oscar Ortega of the Albion semi-pro team just learned he has a new hurdle to clear — cancer — in attaining his lifelong dream.
“I feel this is just a setback,” said the 22-year-old Ortega, who’s played soccer since age 4 in a sport he previously described as, “pretty much a lifestyle for me.”
Ortega found out he had cancer in his lymph glands after playing in Albion’s first exhibition game a couple months ago.
“I played the entire game and I had back pain so severe the next morning that I had to go to the hospital,” he said. “I thought it was a vertebrae issue, a slipped disc, but that was ruled out. Then they ruled out kidney stones. Finally, they found cancer in swollen lymph nodes spread throughout my lower back.”
Lymph nodes or glands are kidney-shaped organs spread throughout the body’s circulatory system that filter out foreign particles, including cancer cells.
Shocked at first, noting there’s no history of cancer in his family, Ortega adopted the same posture he assumes as an athlete — holding firm and battling back.
“It was very surprising,” he said adding, “They needed to start treatment right away.”
Ortega’s now about halfway through chemotherapy.
“I have a portable machine implanted in my chest that will directly inject chemicals into my body for the next six months,” he said adding it was rough at first.
“For two weeks I was real low on energy,” he said. “But now I’m feeling more normal.”
Through it all, Ortega has remained close to the field — and to his Albion teammates.
“I’m not playing, but I definitely am practicing with the team,” he said noting, “I must continue. I know I will overcome.”
Ortega’s learned keeping a positive mental attitude is the most important thing in fighting cancer.
“It’s a necessity that you control your mind,” he said. “You have to be positive and strong mentally. You cannot dwell on the fact that you have this horrible disease. You will get through it and beat the battle. Everyone is going to react to the medicines differently for their bodies. Just keep your mind positive. You will definitely get through this battle.”
Ortega’s bout with cancer has made him realize just how much support is behind him.
“I’d like to give a big thank you to my family, friends, the San Diego and soccer communities and especially the Albion family, including the head coach, who are all helping me get through this tough time,” he said adding he believes, with everyone’s love and support, that he’ll be back on the field playing for Albion again soon.”
Albion Pros is in the National Premier Soccer League, a semi-pro group in the fourth tier of professional soccer.
