UNC coach Roy Williams on Wednesday had a biopsy on a tumor on his left kidney. ROBERT WILLETT
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina coach Roy Williams on Wednesday underwent a biopsy to determine the pathology of a tumor on his left kidney, Tar Heels basketball spokesman Steve Kirschner said.
Williams, 62, already has endured one surgery to remove a tumor on his right kidney. Doctors performed that procedure on Sept. 19 at UNC Hospitals and they determined that the tumor was an oncocytoma, a benign tumor of that is often indistinguishable from kidney cancer on x-rays. Those tumors do not spread.
Doctors were optimistic that the tumor on Williams’ left kidney is also an oncocytoma. If it is, Williams will not need to undergo another surgery.
Kirschner said he did not know when doctors would have the results of the biopsy. UNC will start preseason basketball practice on Oct. 12.
During an interview with the Tar Heels Sports Network on Saturday during halftime of UNC’s 66-0 football victory against Idaho, Williams said he had prepared himself mentally for the possibility of needing a second surgery. If he needs an additional surgery, he would miss an undetermined number of practices before the start of the season.
UNC will begin preseason practice on Oct. 12. Williams is scheduled that night to attend his annual “Late Night with Roy” event, which celebrates the start of preseason practice.
