STT. Rangers Legend Ron Duguay Reveals Stage 4 Colon Cancer Battle After More Than a Year of Treatment

Ron Duguay, a legend of the New York Rangers, faced the toughest match of his life when doctors confirmed he had stage 4 cancer.

The news didn’t come from a glamorous press conference or a packed stadium, but was quietly shared by him with the media, as a heavy confession after more than a year of silent struggle.

At age 68, the man who once electrified Madison Square Garden is now facing a disease originating in his colon that has spread and forced him to undergo a series of serious medical interventions.

Over the past year, he has lost both his appendix and gallbladder due to complications related to his illness.

The body, once accustomed to the intense clashes on the ice rink, now has to cope with chemotherapy, surgery, and long, exhausting days in the hospital.

Duguay admitted he found it extremely difficult to ask for financial help.

Throughout his life, he was accustomed to being a giver, a supporter, and an inspiration to others.

“Normally, I’m the one who helps others,” he shared emotionally.

However, cancer, in his words, “drains your life” and the cost of treatment is “suffocatingly expensive.”

His family eventually decided to set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of treatment, travel, and additional therapies.

His two daughters wrote in their appeal that their father had never been one to ask for favors.

He always tried to shoulder everything himself and didn’t want to be a burden to anyone.

But after many family conversations, they realized the weight of this struggle had exceeded their individual capabilities.

That burden is not only physical but also financial.

As of midweek, the fundraising campaign had received over $31,000 in donations.

That figure represents not only money but also the affection, respect, and gratitude of fans for an icon of Rangers.

Ron Duguay is more than just a former player.

He is a part of the team’s history.

Selected at number 13 in the 1977 NHL Draft, he quickly became a prominent figure for the Rangers in the late 1970s.

He played a major role in helping the team reach the final of the Stanley Cup in 1979.

The image of his long hair blowing in the wind as he glided across the ice became an icon for a generation.

After retiring from the game, he continued his association with the team as a commentator for MSG Network for 12 years.

His voice is familiar to millions of fans whenever Rangers play.

That media journey came to an end in 2018, but the love for the team and the fans never faded.

His battle with cancer began quietly.

Initially, the family sought treatment in Florida.

But according to his daughters, a previous course of treatment nearly cost their father his life.

That event forced the whole family to change direction.

They decided to move him to Orange County, California, so he could be closer to his children.

However, that meant he had to fly from Florida to California every two weeks to continue his treatment.

Frequent flights, medical expenses, supplemental therapies, nutritional supplements, and alternative treatments gradually became an enormous burden.

The family said that his cancer markers had recently started to rise again.

That news came as another blow to the family’s spirits.

While continuing their current treatment regimen, they are exploring other options, including outside the United States, with a slim but determined glimmer of hope.

These new methods come with very high costs.

And with his health declining, he was unable to work as before, and financial pressure was mounting.

Duguay shared that he is considering combining Western medicine with alternative methods.

“I will do everything I can,” he said.

“I will combine traditional treatment with alternative therapies.”

He believes that what he has learned on this journey can be helpful to others.

Even while fighting for his own life, he still thought about sharing his knowledge to help other patients.

“I need to get better so I can help others,” he added.

One of the two daughters, Shay, posted a touching video on Instagram.

She wrote that her father was doing everything he could.

From special antioxidant water and ozone blood therapy to intravenous vitamin infusions and other supplementary methods, he experimented with an unwavering spirit.

Meanwhile, he continued chemotherapy according to the City of Hope protocol and underwent major surgeries on his liver and colon.

Shay affirmed that her father “gives his all every day.”

And despite his physical exhaustion, his faith never wavered.

Throughout his 12-season career in the NHL, Ron Duguay scored 274 goals and provided 346 assists.

He made his only All-Star appearance in the 1981-82 season.

He also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins before ending his playing career.

But for Rangers fans, he will always be the long-haired boy from their most exciting years.

Now, instead of the cheers from the stands, he heard the sounds of medical equipment and the hurried footsteps of nurses in the hospital corridors.

Instead of preparing for a big match, he prepared for his next round of treatment.

Instead of training on the ice, he learned to listen to his body as it weakened day by day.

But the warrior spirit remains.

His family believes that community support is a great source of motivation.

Prayers, messages of encouragement, and even small donations all mean a great deal.

In a life dedicated to both sport and community, this is perhaps one of the rare occasions where Ron Duguay has been forced to stand in the position of receiving a gift.

And although he said that asking for support made him feel awkward, those who loved him saw it as an opportunity to show their gratitude.

The battle ahead is still long.

Health indicators remain unstable.

Further treatment decisions are being considered.

But if there’s one thing Ron Duguay’s career has proven, it’s that he never gave up halfway.

On the ice rink years ago, he used to engage in seemingly impossible challenges.

In real life today, he is entering an even tougher battle.

A match without stands, without a final whistle.

Only hope, faith, and the support of family and fans remain.

For him, the goal now is not to lift a championship trophy.

The goal is to conquer the very disease that is challenging every cell in the body.

And in that battle, every word of encouragement, every act of sharing became a part of the strength that helped him keep moving forward.