Lavin to have different prostate cancer treatment

NEW YORK (AP) - St. John’s basketball coach Steve Lavin needs to take a different method in treating his prostate cancer, but doesn’t expect it to interfere with the upcoming season.

The 47-year-old Lavin, diagnosed with the disease last September, waited until April to announce his illness. He said then he was told he could delay treatment until after last basketball season, his first at St. John’s.

Now a new course of action is needed.

“After the most recent consultation, my doctors feel at this point that the active surveillance approach is off the table,” Lavin said Saturday to reporters at the Dribble for the Cure event on campus to support pediatric cancer research.

“So that narrows the treatment options to surgery or radiation. The advantage of early detection is that we have these options that can assist in leading to a cancer-free life.”

Lavin said he doesn’t expect to miss any practices, which begin on Oct. 14.

“I don’t think this will affect my coaching at all,” he said.

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