Doctor: Fans shouldn't expect head coach to come back this season

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - On Monday Colts fans learned the team's head coach, Chuck Pagano, will probably be out for the season.  He has been diagnosed with a form of Leukemia .  NewsChannel 15 talked with a local doctor about some of the challenges the coach is facing now.  Doctor David Zimmerman told us it's a tough situation for both Coach Pagano and Colts fans.  In fact, the chances of him returning this season are slim to none.  Dr. Zimmerman believes Pagano has a good chance of winning his battle with the disease.

"It's the most curable, treatable subtype of Acute Myeloid Leukemia ," Zimmerman explained.

Doctor Zimmerman specializes in diagnosing and treating blood diseases.  He said the first month of treatment will be the most difficult for Pagano.

"That first month can be tenuous with lots of blood transfusions, lots of infections and sometimes patients can get sick and end up in the ICU and there's even a risk of death."

For fans hoping to see Pagano back on the field this season, Doctor Zimmerman said think again.

"The season is pretty much over for him. It's really not at all practical to expect that with the severity of this diagnosis and the intensity of the treatment that he'll go through over the next six months that he'll have any chance of returning to his job in the short term."

Doctor Zimmerman said after six months if Pagano stays in remission he could be back next season.

"I would guess that he's in probably good condition. I would guess he's a pretty healthy guy otherwise. So, I would guess there's a pretty good chance he'll do well."

Lots of Colts fans Monday have been sending their thoughts and prayers to Pagano and his family via social media.  Doctor Zimmerman said that's a great way to keep moral high as he continues to march through this first difficult month of treatment.