Stothers, who turned 61 on Feb. 22, is under care at University of California Irving Health and will begin treatment and surgical intervention in the coming weeks. He joined the Ducks staff on June 15, 2021.
"I want to thank all my family, friends and the Ducks organization, led by our owners Henry and Susan Samueli, for their incredible support during this difficult period," Stothers said in a statement released Saturday.
"If I could share one simple message to all: Listen to your body. If you notice something unusual, or don't feel like yourself, consult a doctor immediately. Please do not wait. It could be the best decision you ever make."
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement, "The National Hockey League family stands with Anaheim Ducks' assistant coach Mike Stothers as he takes on this challenge. We wish Mike our best and pledge our full support. Hockey Fights Cancer every day, all year."
Selected in the first round (No. 21) of the 1980 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, Stothers played 30 games with the Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs. He was a Flyers assistant from 2000-02 and Atlanta Thrashers in 2010-11.
"Mike is one of the toughest and finest people in hockey. The Ducks organization and entire NHL community are firmly behind him," the Samuelis said in a statement.
"We also support and appreciate Mike's message. For him to take the time to try and help others while dealing with his own battle says a lot about who he is."
