Former head football coach Joe Paterno has a treatable form of lung cancer, according to his son Scott.

Scott Paterno said in a statement to the Associated Press that his father is undergoing treatment and “his doctors are optimistic he will make a full recovery.”

Joe Paterno was diagnosed during a follow-up visit last weekend for a bronchial illness.

“As everyone can appreciate, this is a deeply personal matter for my parents, and we simply ask that his privacy be respected as he proceeds with treatment,” Scott Paterno said in his statement.

No one from the Paterno family could be reached to comment on Joe Paterno’s diagnosis. Scott Paterno deferred comment to lawyer Wick Sollers at King and Spalding law firm. He said he had nothing to add to his statement.

The Penn State Board of Trustees fired Joe Paterno on Nov. 9, ending his 46 years as head football coach. Paterno was fired five days after the release of the grand jury presentment that describes alleged incidents of sexual abuse of children by former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

Some Penn State students found out about Joe Paterno’s cancer as they left campus for Thanksgiving break, like Paternoville Coordination Committee President John Tecce President and Vice President Michael Higgins.

Tecce and Higgins read the news on Twitter and ESPN as they drove to Columbus for the football team’s game against Ohio Sate on Saturday.

“It’s just a shame,” Tecce said. “It’s honestly just a terrible situation and I wish him, Sue and the whole family the very best.”

Both said they think Joe will be able to get through it.

“You just gotta’ hope for the best,” Higgins said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.