Melbourne Demons star Jesse Hogan has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The AFL club confirmed the diagnosis on Tuesday morning and announced the 22-year-old forward would undergo surgery.
The news comes just three weeks after Hogan's father died from cancer.
"Jesse underwent an ultrasound late last week which revealed a small mass in his testicle suggestive of a seminoma, which is a type of cancer," the Demons announced in a statement.
We can confirm the unfortunate news that Jesse Hogan has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
📰 | https://t.co/MTNGoO0Kjc pic.twitter.com/TdRgtrwGdc— Melbourne FC (@melbournefc) May 15, 2017
"Jesse has also undergone a CT scan which determined the cancer has not spread to any other part of his body.
"It's important to reinforce that this was an extremely early detection and the seminoma is in its earliest stage of growth. He is expected to make a full recovery."
In shock over the Jesse Hogan news, and just after his Father has passed. Praying that he pulls through.
— Ryan Fitzgerald (@FitzySA) May 15, 2017
Thoughts with Jesse Hogan. What an awful, awful time.
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) May 15, 2017
Hogan will take indefinite leave from the club, but the Demons are confident he will return before the end of the 2017 AFL season.
This was an extremely early detection and Jesse is expected to make a full recovery and will return to football this year.
— Melbourne FC (@melbournefc) May 15, 2017
What Is Seminoma?
A seminoma is a type of germ cell tumour of the testicle. Typically, it affects men aged 25 to 45.
Jesse Hogan: Full Club Statement
The Melbourne Football Club wishes to advise that Jesse Hogan has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and will today undergo surgery to have the tumor removed. Jesse underwent an ultrasound late last week which revealed a small mass in his testicle suggestive of a seminoma, which is a type of cancer. Jesse has also undergone a CT scan which determined the cancer has not spread to any other part of his body.
It's important to reinforce that this was an extremely early detection and the seminoma is in its earliest stage of growth. He is expected to make a full recovery.
General Manager of Football Josh Mahoney said: "The Club's collective heart is with Jesse Hogan. This is clearly a very difficult time for Jesse and his health and wellbeing is the number one priority for us.
"We informed the players of this on Friday and respected Jesse's wishes to keep this information private up until this point. Jesse will obviously miss a period of football due to this surgery but we expect him to make a full recovery and return to AFL in the short-term future."
We ask the public and media to respect his privacy during this period.
ALSO ON HUFFPOST AUSTRALIA
,