LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- New Mexico State basketball coach Lou Henson, diagnosed with a form of cancer last month, returned to campus Monday and vowed not to let the illness slow him down.

The 71-year-old Aggie coach held his first news conference since being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Henson said through the university that the disease has progressed from Stage 2 to Stage 4.

According to the University of Maryland's Web site, Stage 2 cancer is found in one area or organ outside the lymph nodes and in the lymph nodes around it. At Stage 4, the cancer possibly has spread to other organs.

Last month, Henson, said he plans to continue coaching in spite of his initial diagnosis.

		When you talk about great college basketball coaches, usually the same group is referenced: Hall of Famers Mike Krzyzewski, Lute Olson, Bob Knight and John Chaney. What about this name: Lou Henson. I remember when he was strutting the sidelines at Illinois. Do you remember that orange blazer he wore? Now Henson, currently the head coach at New Mexico State, is fighting a different battle -- against cancer. But he'll be back. More...

"I feel good, I feel energetic," Henson said Monday. "I worked Friday, I played nine holes of golf on Friday and 18 on Sunday. I plan on doing all the things I did before. In a stressful job, you have to stay in shape and that will help now. You need to be busy. There is no reason why you can't function with this type of cancer."

Henson has already undergone treatments for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a malignant cancerous growth of B or T cells in the lymph system.

"I underwent chemotherapy, which will be the primary treatment," Henson said. "I went to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and that went well. I'll be able to undergo most of my treatment here in Las Cruces. The fact that I have a lot of energy and keep in good shape is in my favor. I have a lot of support and I'll be fine.

"I don't plan on taking this lightly. I know more about cancer now than I ever did before, and I know what I am up against. This cancer is treatable."

Henson said he will have to undergo treatment for four to six months. The treatments usually run for three days, according to Henson. The first day of treatment consists of six to eight hours, the second day approximately 1 1/2 hours and the final day one hour.

Henson, who is 762-386 in 40 years on the bench, including a mark of 272-126 in 15 seasons as NMSUs head coach, is looking forward to year 41 on the college coaching circuit.

"If I can't do the job or put in the time, I will say something," said Henson of coaching. "I fully intend on working and getting a lot done. My assistants have done a great job. I missed the second half of the July recruiting period, but my assistants did a good job of handling that. But I need to be here."

Henson has met with players on the squad but did not talk about his cancer to them.

The veteran coach already has a busy schedule planned. He's leaving later this week to give a speech in San Jose in addition to keeping his regular routine at the office.

"Coach looks good, he looks like he hasn't missed a beat," NMSU assistant coach Chris Crutchfield said. "He got back here, he worked and we had a meeting up until 6 p.m. on Friday and talked about the upcoming season and other things. It was great seeing him and seeing him work again and doing what he loves to do.

"Coach Henson has such great energy. He'll be fine and he'll work hard like he always does."

New Mexico State opens practice in October with its first regular season game set Nov. 22 at home against New Mexico Highlands.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.