Olympic Swimmer Faces New Trial: Cancer

American Eric Shanteau, 24, Will Delay Treatment Of Testicular Cancer To Compete In Beijing

(AP)  Olympic swimmer Eric Shanteau is heading to Beijing with a startling diagnosis: He has cancer.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Shanteau said he learned just a week before the Olympic trials in Omaha, Neb., that he has testicular cancer. His doctors cleared him to compete in that meet and he surprisingly made the team in the 200-meter breaststroke, finishing second ahead of former world-record holder and heavy favorite Brendan Hansen.

"I was sort of like, 'This isn't real. There's no way this is happening to me right now,"' Shanteau said. "You're trying to get ready for the Olympics, and you just get this huge bomb dropped on you."

Luckily for Shanteau, the doctors determined his cancer was treatable and had not spread, so it wouldn't be a risk to compete in the Olympic trials.

Now, Shanteau's putting off surgery until after Beijing because he doesn't want to disrupt his lifelong goal of swimming in the Olympics. The 24-year-old Georgia native will be monitored closely over the next month and vows to withdraw from the team if there's any sign his cancer is spreading.

"If I didn't make the team, the decision would have been easy: Go home and have the surgery," Shanteau said. "I made the team, so I had a hard decision. But, by no means am I being stupid about this."

Shanteau stressed he's not willing to risk his life just to compete in his first Olympics. But, after considering the benefits of immediate treatment, he decided to put off surgery because it would keep him out of the water for at least two weeks, ruining his Beijing preparations.

The cancer was found after Shanteau noticed an abnormality and was finally persuaded by his girlfriend to see a doctor.

At his initial examination, Shanteau was told it was probably nothing more than a benign cyst. But an ultrasound showed the possibility of something more sinister, so he was sent to a specialist. On June 19, exactly one week before he was scheduled to leave for the trials, Shanteau heard that awful word.

Cancer.

"It almost numbed me," he said. "I'll remember that day for the rest of my life. Talk about a life-changing experience. That's as big a one as you can have, I think. You're changed for the rest of your life. The few people I've talked to who've gone through this - and they're all much, much older than I am - say I'll know that even more in 10 years."

Luckily for Shanteau, the doctors determined his cancer was treatable and had not spread, so it wouldn't be a risk to compete in the Olympic trials.

If everything had gone according to script, Shanteau would have already gone through surgery and be on the road to recovery. But the improbable happened in the 200 breaststroke, where Hansen - considered a lock to make the team - faded badly on the final lap. Scott Spann powered by to win the race, and Shanteau passed Hansen as well to claim the second spot on the team.

Shanteau was going to the Olympics.

But his thoughts quickly shifted to the cancer.

"A lot of people kept asking me after that race, 'What was going on? We thought we would get a little more reaction out of you,"' he said. "That kind of made it a little bittersweet. It went well. I made the team. Then I had to go back and deal with reality."

Only a few close friends and family knew about Shanteau's condition before the Olympic trials. He decided to go public with his story because he hopes to inspire others with cancer.

Shanteau didn't even tell his agent, Evan Morgenstein, until after he made the team.

"I was in shock," Morgenstein said. "I am still in shock. When a great person like Eric tells you he has bad news, you figure he pulled a muscle or twisted an ankle. This is so hard to understand."

According to the National Cancer Institute, testicular cancer is relatively rare, accounting for 1 percent of male cancer cases in the U.S. It's often diagnosed in younger men. About 8,000 men are diagnosed and 390 die from the disease each year.

The cancer is slow to spread and usually treatable, but follow-up care is extremely important because of the risk of recurrence, the NCI said. Surgery to remove the affected testicle is the most common form of treatment, and a biopsy is performed afterward to determine the exact stage of the illness and any follow-up care that might be necessary.

If untreated, testicular cancer can spread to the lungs or through the kidneys to reach the lymph nodes, drastically reducing the chances of survival.

Shanteau's camp already has heard from the agent of Lance Armstrong, who overcame the same disease and won the Tour de France seven straight times.

"Lance's agent told my coaches that I'm the closest thing to Lance Armstrong that there is on the planet right now," Shanteau said. "If I can have a fraction of the impact that he's had, just a tiny little bit, then I think what I'm going through will be good."

Up to now, Shanteau's biggest international accomplishment was finishing fifth in the 200 breaststroke at last year's world championships in Australia.

He faces long odds to make the medal stand in Beijing, having posted only the ninth-fastest time in the world this year. But Shanteau insists he won't be distracted by the cancer.

"Making the Olympic team was the hard part," he said. "The Olympic Games should fun. I'm not worried about swimming fast there."

At the trials, Shanteau couldn't help but think about his disease when outside the pool, but he put it aside as soon as he entered the water.

"The trials were great," he said. "It actually took my mind off it. I was getting exhausted thinking about it nonstop for two straight weeks. The trials were my release, kind of a way to get away from it."

Shanteau grew up in suburban Atlanta and attended Auburn University, graduating in 2006 with a degree in entrepreneurship and family business. After swimming, he would like to open a boat shop.

For now, he's got more pressing matters.

First, the Olympics. Then, surgery to rid his body of cancer.

"I want the swimming aspect so badly," Shanteau said. "I know what I'm risking ... but it's basically just a longer recovery time. After the Olympics, I'll have nothing but time. That's why it wasn't too hard to make this decision."

[HeinrichAtomic]

I was mistakenly diagnosed with testicular cancer
when I was in my twenties. I handled it poorly.
I gave away everything I owned. Alienated my friends
in the hope of sparing them watching me die. As
it turned out, the doctors were wrong. And I reacted
as stupidly as anyone could and came close to
destroying my life as anyone can. He''s going for it.

Please remember that despite the diagnoses and the
surgery, you still have a life that has to be lived
as best you can. The cancer is his. The effects
involve everyone around you and how you deal with
it demonstrates the depth of your character. I wish
I''d had a tiny portion of his strength when I was
faced with the same situation. It took me years to
repair the damage I did to my life by giving up and
throwing away the opportunity to grow from it.

[HeinrichAtomic]

I was mistakenly diagnosed with testicular cancer
when I was in my twenties. I handled it poorly.
I gave away everything I owned. Alienated my friends
in the hope of sparing them watching me die. As
it turned out, the doctors were wrong. And I reacted
as stupidly as anyone could and came close to
destroying my life as anyone can. He''s going for it.

Please remember that despite the diagnoses and the
surgery, you still have a life that has to be lived
as best you can. The cancer is his. The effects
involve everyone around you and how you deal with
it demonstrates the depth of your character. I wish
I''d had a tiny portion of his strength when I was
faced with the same situation. It took me years to
repair the damage I did to my life by giving up and
throwing away the opportunity to grow from it.

[Atlantic2752]

Go Eric,,,, from a Leukemia survivor

[sgtrds10-4]

It''s just a sport! It''s not like he''s risking his life and/or long term health to go out and rescue starving people! There is nothing even the least bit "heroic" about what he''s doing. Heroic is running into a burning building to save another person. Heroic is taking a bullet for another cop. heroic is diving on a gernade to save other soldiers. That''s heroism and this ain''t. It''s foolish and it sends a horrible message to young people to say it''s anything other then that.

[Meg003]

mainemade

You are so right! GO ERIC!!!

[mainemade]

Life is short and never guaranteed. It''s HIS life to live or lose any way he sees fit.
Go for it Eric, Live your dream! Go for it!!

[Meg003]

SgtRDS10-4

What if he skips the Olympics, has the surgery, and is killed in a car crash the next day?

He has been told it is slow-growing. It''s his decision to make. I think he has made the right one. If his doctors disagreed, they would have refused him clearance to compete.

I have been in that situation where a cancer can wait a short while for treatment. It made no difference in the outcome, just as my doctors told me. And all I needed to do was arrange work issues.

I find it amazing and courageous that he can keep his focus and compete after being hit with that bombshell.

[sgtrds10-4]

What happens if this guy comes home from China and his doctors discover the cancer has spread faster then they thought it would, say to his prostate and now only radical surgery may be needed if he''s not actually terminal. What is he going to have on his tombstone? "I gave up my life to swim in the Olympics"? It''s not worth it and at least should NEVER be looked at as heroic or inspiring. It''s just a sport, nothing more.

[Meg003]

SgtRDS10-4

Most of the time a delay of weeks or sometimes even months will not affect the outcome after treatment of some kinds of cancer. The article says that this kind of cancer is slow to spread.

It is amazing how critical people can be when someone does not react to a cancer diagnosis in the most typical way. Yet oncology is an ever-changing field. One doctor will recommend one treatment, while another may prefer something else.

The bottom line is, everyone with cancer must make up his or her own mind how or when to be treated, and then the patient must live with his/her decision. And no one else can really decide for the patient.

[nssherlock1]

This should be a good cover story for a failed drug test, Eric. After the Olympics he can declare that a ''Miracle'' has happened and rake in big bucks from the followers of Jeebus.

[sgtrds10-4]

Hopefully his courage will be an inspiration to others to live life to the fullest.

Posted by ladybugsz at 05:52 PM : Jul 11, 2008

There is not a single courageous or inspiring thing about this and I hope others will not "look up" to him in any manner. Putting off medical treatment for cancer because he wants to compete in China is pure ego. It sets a horrible example to younger people that their sport (and that''s all it is is a sport!) is more important then their health or life.

[ladybugsz]

I is so easy to make those kind of comments about his decision toput off treatment. I have been diagnosed with a progressive life threatening condition and believe me, he is not making this decision lightly. He has considered his options and is doing what is BEST for him. When you are faced with your mortality, you want to not miss a thing. Life is precious, time is precious, but experiences are priceless...you live with no regrets and your quality of life becomes even more than you could ever imagine. I will specifically watch him and pray for him and root him on. Hopefully his courage will be an inspiration to others to live life to the fullest.
My favorite saying is this.." Dance like no one is watching, Sing like no one is listening, Love like you have never been hurt before, Live like it is Heaven on Earth" GODSPEED ERIC:)

[nssherlock1]

He might want to give the Tour de France a shot.

[nssherlock1]

Sooooooo, he''s gonna lose a FLOAT?

[joeybergas]

actually it probably won''t make a difference.......he will lose his testicle and his treatment and prognosis will HIGHLY likely not change as a result of waiting 1.5 months to begin treatment.......but granted this is a very specific circumstance...most cancers ought not to be handled in this manner...

[sgtrds10-4]

"American Eric Shanteau, 24, Will Delay Treatment Of Testicular Cancer To Compete In Beijing"

I hope this ignorant decision on his part doesn''t get played up by thge media as an athlete being "brave" or other such garbage. Delaying his cancer treatment to compete is raw stupidity and in no way should he be held up as an example to anyone else as something other then purely egotistical.