Alabama AD Battle completes latest cancer treatments

University of Alabama director of athletics Bill Battle announced he has completed the latest series of treatments for multiple myeloma and looks forward to returning to work on a limited basis soon, the university released in a statement Thursday.

Battle underwent a stem cell transplant at The Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Center at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta on June 27 under the supervision of Sagar Lonial, M.D. He was released from the hospital on July 8 and was approved to return to his home in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday.

“Mr. Battle had an uneventful transplant course and is recovering well, as we expected,” Lonial said. “He should be returning home to Alabama soon.”

Battle underwent an autologous stem cell transplant, a transplant using his own stem cells. He has been recovering on an outpatient basis with his son, Mike, and his family at their home in Marietta, Ga.

“I have completed this latest phase of my fight against multiple myeloma, and the outcome was extremely positive,” Battle said. “My wife, Mary, a licensed oncology nurse, has been an amazing force in every stage of this fight over the last two years. I was fortunate to get early detection, aggressive treatment by the best doctors, and entered this recent phase in reasonably good physical shape. All of those factors were vital to this positive outcome. However, maybe the most important factor has been the outpouring of thoughts and prayers from around the country. It has been overwhelming, and Mary and I are most appreciative.”

This story was originally published July 21, 2016 at 4:36 PM with the headline "Alabama AD Battle completes latest cancer treatments."