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University of Minnesota football player beats cancer for 5th time

Casey O'Brien, a redshirt sophomore on the University of Minnesota football team, shared on Twitter that he went through his final chemotherapy session, marking the fifth time he's beaten cancer.
Minnesota Golden Gophers placeholder Casey O'Brien (14) holds the ball for an extra point kick during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Rutgers Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Sarah Stier)

MINNEAPOLIS (KARE) — Casey O'Brien has inspired many through his story, and on Friday, he added yet another motivating chapter.

O'Brien, a redshirt sophomore on the University of Minnesota football team, shared on Twitter that he went through his final chemotherapy session, marking the fifth time he's beaten cancer.

O'Brien was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer, when he was a freshman at Certin-Derham Hall. After years of treatment, and four successful bouts with the disease, O'Brien joined the Gophers as a walk-on placeholder.

He made his collegiate debut this past season in a 42-7 win over Rutgers, where he was also named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.

Casey O'Brien (right) and Megan Wagner walk the halls together. (KARE)

After being cancer-free for nearly two years, O'Brien announced in late November that doctors found a spot on one of his lungs and it would require surgery to remove it.

The surgery was successful, and O'Brien continued his treatment en route to beating cancer for the fifth time.

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