Seahawks Honor Cancer Patients at Practice
The team welcomed six patients during Crucial Catch month to emphasize the importance of preventative cancer screenings.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Cancer
The Seattle Seahawks hosted six Virginia Mason Franciscan Health patients at a practice session to mark the NFL Crucial Catch initiative. The event aimed to promote the importance of preventative screenings for six types of cancer during October.
Why it matters
The initiative uses the platform of professional football to encourage public engagement with life-saving cancer screenings. By sharing survivor stories, the campaign underscores how early detection can improve outcomes for patients across the region.
Patient records include a stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosis and a 11-centimeter tumor size, with treatment regimens ranging from 25 radiation sessions to 35 lymph node removals. Medical outcomes are highlighted by eight years of cancer-free living.
The players
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team that competes in the National Football League.
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is a health system based in the Pacific Northwest that provides comprehensive medical services.
John Klein
John Klein is a cancer survivor who has remained cancer-free for eight years after a stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosis.
Stacy Mazza
Stacy Mazza is a cervical cancer survivor who underwent extensive radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
The details
The event featured survivors who received care at regional facilities like St. Anne Hospital and St. Michael Medical Center. Each patient represented one of the six screenable cancers highlighted by the NFL initiative, showcasing diverse recovery paths after diagnoses like stage 2 lung cancer and squamous cell carcinoma.
Timeline
Stacy Mazza received her cervical cancer diagnosis in 2025.
Joan Nelson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2026.
The Seahawks hosted the survivors in October 2026.
Health Landscape
This event follows the framework established by the NFL Crucial Catch initiative to increase public health awareness. It demonstrates how major sports organizations align with medical institutions to drive population-level engagement with preventative screening protocols.
Readers are encouraged to schedule preventative screenings for the six cancers highlighted by the national initiative. The stories of these survivors emphasize that early detection is a critical factor in successful treatment and long-term recovery.
The takeaway
Early detection remains the most effective tool in improving survival rates for the six screenable cancers highlighted by the initiative. Residents should consult their primary care providers about their individual risk profiles and recommended screening schedules.
Further reading
For more on local oncology efforts, see the Seattle Cancer section.
