Craig Sager Medically Cleared to Return Home After Cancer Treatment

Turner Sports sideline reporter Craig Sager's cancer treatment has taken a positive turn. Sager's son, Craig Jr., announced on Twitter that Craig Sr. has been medically cleared to return home early from what was expected to be a 100-day hospital stay:

Sager, 64, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in April 2014. He went into remission following a bone marrow transplant and briefly returned to the NBA sidelines in March. However, Sager's cancer returned later that same month, and he has been undergoing treatment ever since.

Sager underwent stem cell treatment in July that doctors hoped would help facilitate remission. The fact the hospital released Sager from its care ahead of schedule is undoubtedly a positive sign, but Craig Jr. did not offer a formal update on his father's diagnosis.         

Sager discussed his treatment with David Barron of the Houston Chronicle in August:

"

I was on hard-core chemo 24 hours a day for 14 days had the (transplant) after I got into remission, and there’s a period after that to see if your body accepts the transplant. I had major tests (last) week from brain scans to chest X-rays and bone marrow biopsies, and all 20 markers came back and none showed any kind of leukemia.

Everything has been very positive. The doctors say they couldn’t be happier and things couldn’t be in a better place. That’s good news to my ears.

"

Known for his unique mix of flamboyance (read: his suits) and professionalism, Sager has been a fixture on TNT's NBA broadcasts for almost two decades. His long-standing relationship with NBA players affords him a rapport few others in the broadcasting world can boast, and his presence on the telecasts is surely missed.

With Sager returning home, hopefully it's not too long before he gets clearance to return to the NBA sidelines.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.