The Devils announced on Tuesday that veteran center Brian Boyle, signed as a free agent this summer, has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a bone marrow cancer.
"It's largely treatable and it appears to be early in the disease," said Dr. Michael Farber, the medical director of executive health at Hackensack University Medical Center and the Devils team internist.
There is no immediate timetable for Boyle to begin treatments _ Farber said Boyle's CML can be "largely treatable with medication" _ but Boyle said he's hoping to be in the Devils' lineup for their Oct. 7 regular-season opener against the Avalanche at Prudential Center.
Boyle said he has been feeling fatigued this summer but chalked it up to having a 2-year-old and an infant while traveling between Florida, Boston and New Jersey. But bloodwork taken on Thursday when Boyle reported to Devils' training camp for medical testing produced the diagnosis.
Still, Boyle, 32, was very upbeat on a conference call to announce the news.
"I'm expecting to live my life, to live a normal life," Boyle said. "I believe I'm in good hands."
"My mindset is on Oct. 7," Boyle added. "I don't like missing games. I feel as close to normal as you can feel."
