DODGERS NOTEBOOK : BUTLER SEES DOCTOR, MISSES OUT ON START.Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer No one wanted to panic, but there was no denying the fear. The news circulated in the clubhouse and on the field that Brett Butler Brett Butler can refer to different people:
``With his history, any time he goes to the doctor it's always in your mind,'' said Dodgers manager Bill Russell Noun 1. Bill Russell - United States basketball center (born in 1934) William Felton Russell, Russell , who scratched Butler from the lineup when the 39-year-old center fielder came to his office 2-1/2 hours before the game and told him he was going to the doctor. ``The first thing you think about is the problem he had last year,'' Russell said. ``We just hope for the best.'' Their hopes were answered. Butler, who underwent surgery last May 21 to remove a cancerous tumor in his tonsils tonsils, name commonly referring to the palatine tonsils, two ovoid masses of lymphoid tissue situated on either side of the throat at the back of the tongue. , appears to be fine. Ear, nose and throat specialist ear, nose and throat specialist n → oto-rhino-laryngologiste m/f ear, nose and throat specialist n → Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Arzt m, Dr. John Rehm diagnosed Butler as having swollen lymph nodes Lymph nodes Small, bean-shaped masses of tissue scattered along the lymphatic system that act as filters and immune monitors, removing fluids, bacteria, or cancer cells that travel through the lymph system. because of mouth sores. He is being treated with antibiotics, and as long as he responds no tests for cancer are planned. He will likely be re-examined Wednesday. Butler returned to Dodger Stadium • • [ on Monday and entered the game as the center fielder in the ninth inning. ``We have no reason to believe this is an occurrence of cancer,'' Dodgers team doctor Michael Mellman said. ``He's OK to play tonight.'' Butler's salivary glands salivary glands (săl`əvâr'ē), in humans, three pairs of glands that secrete the alkaline digestive fluid, saliva, into the mouth. have not worked since his surgery, and Mellman said a dry mouth can cause more frequent sores. Butler has been complaining of a dull pain on the left side of his neck for about a week. He was scheduled to see Rehm today, but Monday morning asked to move his appointment ahead. ``We all (get) swollen lymph nodes,'' Mellman said. ``It's just in someone who has had cancer you worry about it. . . There's nothing unusual about these lymph nodes. The only thing that is unusual is he went to an (ear, nose and throat specialist) and we're having a press conference.'' That was after the diagnosis. Before, there was trepidation. Billy Ashley started in left field in place of Todd Hollandsworth, who moved to center. Ashley said as soon as he was told he was starting, he wondered what was wrong with Butler. ``It's a little scary with all he's gone through,'' Ashley said. ``It's scary, especially for him. I'm sure he's scared to death.'' Two sides: Tom Candiotti coming out of the bullpen is working out great for the Dodgers. But the situation is making him squirm. ``It's a really big gamble on my part,'' Candiotti said. ``I'm in a free-agent year. I'm in a new experience, doing something I've never done before. Everything has been great. I've had a blast. But it's only been one week.'' |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion