ISU women’s head basketball coach Bill Fennelly and his family breathed a sigh of relief Monday night after finding out his cancerous growth on his vocal cords was superficial, meaning it hadn’t invaded the tissue.

“Obviously, this is great news in light of the situation,” Fennelly said in an e-mail.

“The support and good wishes of so many people was humbling, we are very lucky to be a part of the Iowa State and Central Iowa community. I can’t thank everyone enough.”

Fennelly had a laser excision procedure done Friday morning, removing one of two cancerous growths.

If the cancer had invaded the tissue, Fennelly would have to undergo radiation treatments to remove the other growth.

His prognosis remains good and will require one more laser excision procedure to remove the second growth.

That will be done within the next three to six weeks. Meanwhile, Fennelly still remains on strict vocal rest.

— ISU Media Relations contributed to this article.