TMZ broke the news on their website just moments ago that Jake "The Snake" Roberts has cancer. Their article reads: 

Jake "The Snake" Roberts has a cancerous tumor behind his knee ... and the wrestler says it's slowly growing into his muscle -- so he needs emergency surgery to remove the growth. 

Roberts tells TMZ ... he noticed a tumor behind his knee the size of a half dollar last month so he had it tested ... and on Friday doctors told him the test came back positive for cancer. 

Jake says he's scheduled to go under the knife Tuesday morning ... and after a few weeks off -- he'll make his return to Jersey Championship Wrestling on March 14th -- cancer, or not. 

Jake adds, "If the devil can't defeat me, cancer doesn't stand a chance in hell! Pray for sick children who face this horrible disease 'cause The Snake will be just fine." 

As for his upcoming induction into the WWE Hall of Fame ... the wrestler says nothing will stop him from getting to New Orleans for the ceremony.

god that is fucking awful. Finally beating his demons just for this to happen.

Best of luck to him. Cancer can go fuck itself.

I hope he beats it

I love how Jake told us to pray for the sick children instead of him. Love that guy. Always have. I hope Jake takes that cancer and DDT's it straight to hell.

Shit. Hope everything turns out alright.

Damn, always hate hearing news like this... fuck you Cancer.

Sounds like they caught it early which is good. Hope he recovers quickly.