Bobby Jenks Battling Stage 4 Cancer(Adenocarcinoma)

Despite a dire prognosis, Jenks stays calm, even happy, as he begins his second round of radiation therapy. The fireballer, with substance abuse and a botched back operation in his rearview mirror (which contributed to his career's quick end), told Merkin that he's lucky to be alive, cancer not with standing: "The shit I was doing in my 20s and early 30s, no normal person would have survived. So, in one sense, I am thankful to be alive. In another way, I'm not shocked that this occurred.

Jenks was in Europe after finishing his first season as manager of the independent Windy City (Crestwood) Thunderbolts, traveling and residing in Sintra, Portugal, with his wife's family. His second round of chemotherapy is 70% complete, with three sessions remaining in the hopes of reducing and drying up his tumor.

In January, the news grew much worse when the family home (which housed all of Jenks' personal belongings) was destroyed in the Pacific Palisades fire. Only his World Series ring survives.

"I have one suitcase left to my name," Jenks informed Merkin. "It's all gone."

Jenks is aware that his health prognosis is not favorable, but he is not concerned with fighting against, or even calculating, the odds.

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Later Saturday, MLB.com's Scott Merkin reported that Bobby Jenks, the White Sox's surprise closer from the end of 2005 until the World Series victory, is fighting Stage 4 stomach cancer (adenocarcinoma). The 43-year-old is presently in Portugal being treated for the condition, which has spread to his bones and lower back. The tumor in the center of his body has also burst, causing gastric hemorrhage.

Jenks discovered the malignancy after experiencing severe exhaustion after blood clot therapy when he arrived in Portugal in October.