Henry Nell, a 28-year-old living in Hilton, New York, thought a diagnosis of a rare osteosarcoma would end his career as a football player—and potentially cost him his leg. But after treatment with a team of specialists at NYU Langone Health, he not only kept his leg but also returned to the field and the sport he loves.
While he was playing in the Canadian Football League, Nell started to notice limitations in the mobility of his left leg. Because his position is kicker, that posed significant challenges. At first, he assumed it was the wear and tear many athletes experience, so he continued to compete, never imagining that the symptoms could be related to cancer.
In 2025, he signed with a team in Albany, New York. By then, he was experiencing increasingly noticeable limitations in his ability to move his leg. An X-ray revealed a tumor behind his left knee.
Nell was diagnosed with parosteal osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer. The first doctor he saw told him he would likely never play football again, and according to Nell, suggested that amputation might be necessary to fully remove the cancer. That is when Nell turned to NYU Langone Health.
After speaking with Nicola Fabbri, MD, a surgical oncologist at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center and chief of the Division of Musculoskeletal Oncology Surgery in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Nell immediately felt he had found the right physician and team.
“I chose Dr. Fabbri because of the confidence he showed from the very beginning and the depth of experience he brought to my case,” said Nell. “He made me believe that saving my leg and getting back on the field was possible.”
Dr. Fabbri, who has nearly three decades of experience treating patients with musculoskeletal tumors, worked with Nell to create a plan focused on both removing the cancer and preserving as much function as possible.
“At NYU Langone’s sarcoma program, we take a highly specialized, team-based approach to every patient, because these tumors are rare and often complex,” said Dr. Fabbri. “Our goal is not only to treat the cancer effectively, but whenever possible, to preserve function, mobility, and quality of life so patients can return to the activities that matter most to them.”
Encouraged by that plan, Nell continued to compete. He finished out his season undefeated, won his league championship, and was named player of the year for his position as kicker. His mother flew in from South Africa to watch him compete and stayed to help him through his surgery three weeks later. Nell said that she, along with his wife, a physical therapist, provided an essential support system throughout his surgery and recovery.
The surgery was complex. It involved removing the tumor as well as his anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL), then reconstructing the area using metal plates and screws along with cadaver bone. The procedure was a success, and less than a year later, Nell was back on the field to perform the opening kickoff at the start of his next season—cancer-free.
For patients with rare cancers such as sarcoma, specialized care can make all the difference. Perlmutter Cancer Center’s comprehensive sarcoma program brings together experts across multiple disciplines to diagnose and treat bone and soft tissue tumors. The program includes orthopedic oncologic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, rehabilitation specialists, and other clinicians who work closely together to develop individualized treatment plans.
This multidisciplinary approach is especially important for sarcoma, which includes a wide range of rare cancers that can affect bone or soft tissue and often require highly coordinated care. At NYU Langone, patients benefit from advanced imaging, expert pathology review, limb-sparing surgical techniques when appropriate, and access to rehabilitation services designed to help restore function and mobility after treatment. For athletes like Nell, preserving quality of life and maximizing recovery are critical parts of care.
His story is a powerful reminder of the importance of experienced, compassionate care, especially when facing a rare diagnosis. With the expertise of NYU Langone’s sarcoma program and the support of a coordinated team dedicated to both survival and function, Nell was able to return not only to health but to the life and sport he loves.
About NYU Langone Health
NYU Langone Health is a fully integrated health system that consistently achieves the best patient outcomes through a rigorous focus on quality that has resulted in some of the lowest mortality rates in the nation. Vizient Inc. has ranked NYU Langone number one out of 115 comprehensive academic medical centers across the nation for three years in a row, and U.S. News & World Report recently ranked four of its clinical specialties number one in the nation. NYU Langone offers a comprehensive range of medical services with one high standard of care across 7 inpatient locations, its Perlmutter Cancer Center, and more than 320 outpatient locations in the New York area and Florida. With $14.2 billion in revenue this year, the system also includes two tuition-free medical schools, in Manhattan and on Long Island, and a vast research enterprise.
