Jim Kelly cancer cause is uncertain after report of recurrence was confirmed.

Retired American football quarterback Jim Kelly cancer cause is being studied after its report of recurrence confirmed last march 14, 2014. The retired American football player was first diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma last June 2013. It is a cancer that affects the oral area and in his case, his upper jaw.

Jim Kelly was a quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and in the USFL for Houston Gamblers. Born as James Edward Kelly from Pennsylvania, he began his playing career when he was in his high school in East Brady High School where he also played basketball. He started with USFL and eventually joined the Buffalo Bills in 1986 where he helped lead the team into four consecutive Super Bowl appearances and six divisional championships. It was in 2001 that his number 12 jersey retired.

On June 3, 2013, Jim Kelly announced that he was diagnosed with the squamous cell carcinoma. It is a cancer that affects the linings of the body cavities including the mouth. Jim Kelly cancer cause is said to be unidentified since the player is not a tobacco chewer or smoker.

The 54 year- old Kelly underwent surgery on June 7, 2013 wherein his doctors removed part of his upper jaw, a portion of the roof of his mouth and numerous teeth. The surgery was successful and shortly after that, he was cancer- free.

Recurrence of his oral cancer was confirmed last March 14, 2014 after his follow-up visit at Erie County Medical Center. Jim Kelly cancer cause remains to be uncertain when recurrence of his cancer was confirmed just 9 months after his surgery last year.

"Unfortunately, it has been determined that his cancer has returned," ECMC's Dr. Thom Loree said in a statement released by the hospital. "Our team of head and neck cancer specialists is determining a course of treatment that will allow Mr. Kelly to battle this cancer successfully. Mr. Kelly has asked that you keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers."

Jim Kelly cancer cause remains uncertain but family and friends continue to support him.

"We are overwhelmed by the sincere love you have shown and continue to extend to our family; PrayersforJK," Jill Kelly, Jim's wife wrote to followers on her Twitter account.