Mariners News: Dave Sims “Feeling Great” After Prostate Cancer Surgery

Mariners broadcaster Dave Sims is on the road to recovery following surgery to remove his prostate gland on January 15.

There have been a few members of the Seattle Mariners’ family who went under the knife this offseason, but none more serious than Dave Sims. The M’s veteran broadcaster underwent surgery to treat prostate cancer on January 15. The surgery was successful, and Sims is currently recovering at his home in New York City.

The 62-year-old told Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times that he had been really diligent on getting tested since turning 40. But he went on to explain that, “I had a checkup previously last December, and my numbers were a little elevated, and they said, ‘Get back to us again in six months,’ and I didn’t do it. And they never followed up.” Sims went for a physical with his doctor just prior to Thanksgiving, and it was discovered that his prostate-specific antigen had risen again. Soon after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

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Sims was quick to praise his wife (Abby) for her continued support during his battle with cancer. “She’s always been my MVP, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” he said. “But words can’t express how great she’s been, especially during that first week.” Sims’ pathology reports are clean, and he “feels great.”

1 in 7 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. The numbers are even worse for African-Americans, as nearly 1 in 5 will be affected and the mortality rate is 2.4 times greater than that of white men with the disease. Thankfully, prostate cancer treatments are more effective than some other types of cancer, but these statistics are alarming to say the least.

Sims told the Seattle Times that he plans to use his voice to raise awareness for prostate cancer. He feels like he has joined the “club” of survivors, and he will volunteer his time with various groups in Seattle. He hopes to work closely with men fighting the disease, offering support and comfort. Prior to his surgery, Sims felt it was incredibly helpful for him to talk to survivors about what the procedure entailed and the recovery period.

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2016 will be Dave Sims’ 10th as the Mariners’ play-by-play man. He has narrated action in the NBA, NFL, college basketball and obviously baseball during a broadcasting career that has spanned four decades. Sims is the proud owner of a pair of Emmy Awards. He also received the American Football Foundation’s Lindsey Nelson Outstanding Sportscaster Award, and he won the Big East Media Award in 2005.

Sims’ goal is to be ready to return to the broadcast booth next month when the Mariners open their Cactus League schedule in Arizona. He has been a knowledgeable and entertaining presence in the M’s telecasts, and his partnership with Mike Blowers has been a successful one. Sims has done a nice job taking over for legendary M’s broadcaster Dave Niehaus, who passed away in 2010.

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I’m looking forward to listening to Dave and Mike call what will hopefully be a very successful season for the Mariners in 2016.