Former Chicago Police Supt. Phil Cline is battling lymphoma, according to his family.Doctors found a tumor on his pancreas and a biopsy determined this week that he has lymphoma.
Although lymphoma is a life-threatening cancer, his family was relieved he was not diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which has a lower survival rate.
“From what we’ve learned, it’s a much more treatable cancer,” said his son, police Sgt. Matt Cline. “Pancreatic cancer is pretty difficult to treat as I understand. He always has a very positive outlook on everything. And with the recent news that it’s lymphoma, everyone is encouraged.”
Cline is resting at home, suffering from back pain because of the tumor. He will receive chemotherapy every three weeks for six cycles, his son said.
Cline, 61, was superintendent from 2003 to 2007, presiding over a major decline in crime. In recent years, he has run the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, which supports families of officers killed or injured in the line of duty.
Hundreds of officers and their families attended a prayer vigil for him Sunday at Fraternal Order of Police headquarters.
