Former NHL winger Ron Duguay was released from the hospital this week after a prolonged battle with stage 4 colon cancer, a diagnosis that came unexpectedly after a fall at his home.
The fall triggered a cascade of severe complications, including varices, portal‑hypertensive gastropathy, internal bleeding and a painful ulcer, forcing doctors to admit him for intensive care.
His daughter, Shay Thomas, has been posting regular updates, revealing that Duguay entered the facility severely malnourished and weak, but that his condition has begun to improve as he regains strength.
Thomas emphasized that her father’s primary objective is to rebuild his stamina enough to travel back to Orange County and resume outpatient treatment at the City of Hope, the renowned cancer center where he will continue his therapy.
The treatment regimen under consideration includes Bizengri, also known by its generic name zenocutuzumab‑zbco, a targeted antibody therapy designed to block the signaling pathways that fuel cancer cell growth.
A New Chapter in Recovery
The coming weeks will test Duguay’s physical resilience as he transitions from hospital care to a structured rehabilitation program, a process he hopes will enable him to return to the active lifestyle he once enjoyed on the ice.
Family, friends and fans continue to rally around him, offering encouragement as he navigates the slow but steady path toward full recovery.