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To hell and back: Pitt RB's fight with cancer

PITTSBURGH — The artifacts of cancer are different to each patient, and to each survivor. To some, it’s head scarves and blankets. To others, it’s tears and frustration.

To Pittsburgh running back James Conner, it’s his scars. The visible ones, sure, but the intangible ones, too. The ones only he can feel. Like the early December day he considers his lowest of lows — when he had to stand in front of his teammates and tell them through tears that he had cancer.

This week, Conner tugged at the collar of his T-shirt, exposing a thick, horizontal scar on his neck.