Olympic swimmer Eric Shanteau testicular cancer

Olympic swimmer Eric Shanteau is heading to Beijing with a devastating diagnosis: He has cancer.

[Dagnanimous]

Oh the official network (whoever that is) of the Olympics games LOOOOVES this! Imagine the tear-jerking over-coverage they'll be able to exploit. They won't have to fabricate as many human interest stories like "my 98 year old grandmother died suddenly and unexpectedly 4 years ago and I'm dedicating my performance in these Olympic games to her memory." Or, "my steroid supplier was slapped with criminal charges two weeks before the trials and it's a total fluke that I've gotten this far on my own athletic ability and now am the lovable underdog."

[ClaireZ]

On a serious note I hope for the best for him.

On a nonserious note I hope he becomes the new "face" of testicular cancer b/c I'm so over Lance Armstrong.

[Kevin]

Best of luck to him in his Olympic pursuit as well as his battle with cancer.

(If it were me, I'd have the surgery now.)

[Gina L]

Our family will be thinking of Shanteau as we watch the Olympics. What a brave fellow. Following his dream, no matter where this path may lead. He's taking an awfully big chance.

My brother succumbed to testicular cancer many years ago. He ignored warning signs and only went to doctor after cancer had spread to his spine -- he had terrible back pain that no medication could alleviate.

There may be some things Shanteau can do -- changes in diet, meditation, alternative medicine -- that will slow the progression of the cancer.

[Reality]

Tug wrote:

"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."
Really Eric ? An adult close to this self centered kid should introduce him to common sense.

Really? And throw away everything he has worked towards?

You're nuts.....

[Jeremiah]

He's cute, I'm glad he's going to live.

[Jeremiah]

Heinie wrote:

Eric should visit RevDr Jackson.

haha!

[Organic Sue]

Stupid-Stupid-Stupid. If the day he was diagnosed really "changed his life", as is quoted in the article, then he would have opted to have surgery ASAP. Thank goodness his girl friend had the sense to force him to see a doctor.

[Pudge]

As Yogi Berra said ..."Baseball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical." So is swimming. I hope he considers not only the physical challenge but the mental stress this puts on him as well. If he can't handle the mental part of it, he should step aside and give the Olympic team opportunity to the #4 Trials finisher -- who's worked just as hard.

[Heinie]

Hot Rod wrote:

<quoted text>
So should you- jerk

=====
What's the matter with you? It's a joke. Don't you recognize a joke when you hear one? hahaha

[Someone who knows Eric]

I absolutely can not believe how many people choose to pass judgement on someone that they don't know. I know Eric personally and know that he does NOT use steroids...How dare you throw out that accusation when you have no proof, much less know him?

Not one of you has sat in on a conversation with him or his doctors. I wonder truthfully if any of you out there throwing around advice has or has had cancer and had to face the decision that he's had to deal with. I can say with certainty that if Eric in anyway thought that he wouldn't be swimming his best, he would remove himself from the team.

Don't judge anyone until you walk in their shoes...It's really easy to say "If that were me..."

[So Sorry]

I wish him well.

I wish the Tribune would have put his name on the banner. Having to click to find out who is just plain 'advertising schlock'.

[hmmm]

I think he would gain more respect having the surgery done now and then trying his best to recoup in time to still compete for the olympics, if this were my son or loved one, I would demand they go in for the surgery immediatly, what kind of message does this send to young aspiring athletes, that your own life isn't as important as the olympic games...DUMB!!

[Jane]

Reality wrote:

<quoted text>
Really? And throw away everything he has worked towards?
You're nuts.....

I think 'You're nuts" is a little harsh. He is gambling with his LIFE. I think we all respect the time/effort/engery that these kids put through - but to put off surgery for the hopes of winning a medal... it's not an easy choice. Hopefully, it will all turn out well, but you can't just shrug it off like it's a no-brainer.

[Bip]

Don't know if courages or dumbass is the right way to describe Eric Shanteau. However, this won't make me want to watch Olympic swimming any more than I planned to, which is not at all.

[Brave]

Simly brave.

[Reality]

Jane wrote:

<quoted text>
I think 'You're nuts" is a little harsh. He is gambling with his LIFE. I think we all respect the time/effort/engery that these kids put through - but to put off surgery for the hopes of winning a medal... it's not an easy choice. Hopefully, it will all turn out well, but you can't just shrug it off like it's a no-brainer.

That was sarcasm. Pick up on the 'reference'.

I'm surprised you had the balls to reply to me.

[Kevin]

Someone who knows Eric wrote:

I absolutely can not believe how many people choose to pass judgement on someone that they don't know. I know Eric personally and know that he does NOT use steroids...How dare you throw out that accusation when you have no proof, much less know him?
Not one of you has sat in on a conversation with him or his doctors. I wonder truthfully if any of you out there throwing around advice has or has had cancer and had to face the decision that he's had to deal with. I can say with certainty that if Eric in anyway thought that he wouldn't be swimming his best, he would remove himself from the team.
Don't judge anyone until you walk in their shoes...It's really easy to say "If that were me..."

I didn't judge anyone.
I simply said, "If it were me ..."
I didn't say, "He should ..."

We are allowed to have and express personal opinions in this country, and in my opinion, it is YOU who passed judgement on us.

[Dave]

hmmm wrote:

I think he would gain more respect having the surgery done now and then trying his best to recoup in time to still compete for the olympics, if this were my son or loved one, I would demand they go in for the surgery immediatly, what kind of message does this send to young aspiring athletes, that your own life isn't as important as the olympic games...DUMB!!

His life IS the olympic games. He has spent the majority of his life working towards this moment - some cancer's not going to stop him now. I'm guessing that in his mind, achieving his goals and dreams is worth the risk. I think that the message to young people (not just athletes) is that if you want to achieve your dream, then you need to be willing to do whatever it takes (aside from cheating).

[okgo]

James wrote:

Seems like a lot of athletes get cancer of the nuts. I wonder why? roids maybe? not sure but it's more than coincidence

Or we just hear more about the athletes because they're, you know, FAMOUS or at least NEWSWORTHY, and we don't hear about all the regular folks with testicular cancer. Way to jump to a conclusion without any fact there buddy.