Bettis to undergo chemotherapy after testicular cancer spreads

Just when it appeared Chad Bettis' battle with cancer was moving in the right direction, the Colorado Rockies pitcher revealed some bad news on Friday.

Bettis provided a health update on social media, where he announced he would begin a regimen of chemotherapy after he learned earlier this week that his testicular cancer had unexpectedly spread.

"During my routine health checkup last week, my oncologist believed that he had seen inflamed lymph nodes and ordered an immediate biopsy. I learned this week that my testicular cancer has unexpectedly spread, and I will begin a regimen of chemotherapy in the very near future," Bettis wrote. "Although my blood tumor markers remain at normal levels, it's clear that I need to be aggressive in my fight against this illness. Without being proactive, we wouldn't have caught this.

"I am committed to beating this cancer. My family and I are grateful for the support of the Major League Baseball Players Association, the Rockies organization and you, the fans."

Bettis told MLB.com's Thomas Harding the cure rate is in the 90th percentile, his timeline is broad, and he'd like to pitch this year.

The news comes a month after the pitcher was given some good news following testicular cancer surgery three months earlier.

"Today was a big day for me; it was a clean bill of health," Bettis explained to MLB.com's Thomas Harding in February. "I got the blood work back from the doctor, met with him today, and he said my tumor markers are not detectable."

Bettis was diagnosed with testicular cancer in November after he discovered a lump the size of a "grain of rice."

The 14-game winner from a season ago had returned to a normal throwing program and made a spring start for the Rockies on March 5, tossing two innings against the Milwaukee Brewers.