An unimaginable decision

I respect Shanteau's decision and wish him all the best in the Olympics and a speedy recovery from his cancer so that we'll see him swim again in another 4 years.

I personally would not wait because I'd be so scared that it'd spread and be impossible to treat.

If one takes out the fear of dying as a possible repercussion of his decision, then one can see clearly the joy of living remains.

I understand why he waited, he trained his whole life to compete in the Olympics and if he gave up the chance, he would resent that the cancer took that away from him. And to be honest, who knows if he will ever be able to swim again in the Olympics. As long as he is taking steps to remain healthy during the Games, I think he is making the smart decision.

I don't think any of us can second quess Eric's decision, including him at this point. God bless him and allow him a speedy recovery after his quest.

I think that Eric made the decision for himself. Being able to compete in the Olympics is a life dream. Having cancer can be life threating, so live while you can. I will be praying for Eric and hopes he can live him dream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Having cancer myself(breast), I respect his decision to compete. I'm sure it was a tough decision to make but........way to go Shaun!
I wish you all the best in Beijing!

This is a decision I have had to make. I am a 2 year cervical cancer survivor. I was diagnosed on May 4 and chose to wait on treatment until the end of June, the 28th. It was not a popular decision with my family, however, it was I that had to be in the right mind set for treatment (surgery/radiation/chemotherapy). With the advice from my doctors, who I think would have preferred that I not wait, told me that it was not likely that my cancer would spread in that amount of time.

I am glad that I was able to have some control over the cancer that would control my life for the next several months.

Let me tell you that Eric did not take this decision lightly and after he conquers the Olympics he can use all of that determination and focus on his treatment and recovery.

GO USA!!!

No, I would not wait to be treated. I would never be able to compete at my best knowing what he knows.

You only live once as the saying goes and Eric may only get one chance at Olympic Gold....Most of us can only dream of competing as an Olympic athlete. If it were me, I'd take the chance and accomplish my life's goal. After all isn't that what living and life is all about? Good luck Eric.

As long as he has weighed input from both his doctors and most importantly his family when making his decision to postpone treatment, to compete in the Olympics is a great motivation to keep strong and keep fighting.

The Olympics are a dream and congrats to him for making the team.

I respect the decision as well as I understand the mind of a competitor. I wonder what his family situation is; for example, does he have kids who depend on him?

If it's just him, I can understand his decision but would wonder if he had a wife and kids to support.

The only regrets in life are the one's that we are too fearful of. A life well lived, is a life without regrets. I applaud his decision. May his journey be one to remember.

I also understand and respect his decision to wait on treatment. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer during my senior year of college, and my doctor allowed me to complete my exams prior to begining treatment, resulting in a 1 month delay in treatment. That was 6 years ago and I am fully in remission today AND I am a college graduate.

Good luck to Eric and I wish him the best on his journey!

His doctors are likely to be top-notch, and since they are monitoring his condition closely, there's absolutely no reason for him to forgo his dream of swimming in the Olympics. Even with a successful surgery, he may not be able to swim at this caliber ever again, and at the very least be ill, tired and weak for months to come.

So, carpe diem – and best wishes!!!!

I respect his decision, since it is certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity. Unfortunately I think that given the nature of testicular cancer there will be some progression between now and the Olympics. Not having any progression at all seems like an unlikely scenario, and I wish he had allowed himself for me leeway before resuming treatment.

Well, this game will mean more to him than any of us can imagine. He is going to do something that most of us will never get to do, compete in the Olympics. Cynacism aside, I hope that I would have such courage as it had to be a difficult decision. The possible symbolic and for some, the realistic danger to your manhood, your life, a lot of things and to be able to still go forth and swim your heart out.

I suspect if he can still compete, he will swim like a man possessed and I wish him well. He is braver than I.

I totally agree with Shanteau. I am also facing the exact same decision right now. I have decided to wait until after my wedding, which is only 2 months away. There are certain life events that don't need to be marred by recovery, especially if there is no immediate need for treatment. I know he will do well at the Olympics, and I will have the wedding I have always dreamed of!

Death is obvious to anyone alive...He realized it...Life is short. Live your dreams. Go Eric.

I agree with his decision

his whole life has been for this olympic opportunity

and what's the point of living any kind of life and not have gone for the gold?

I respect Shanteau's decision because when the doctors say that its in its early stages and he can go without treatment and still be fine. I would probably be scared but you only get one life to live

I applaud Shanteau's brave decision to pursue his dream even while facing a terrible disease. I will pray that he will go on to achieve his goals without putting himself in danger. God bless Shanteau.

I totally understand Shanteau’s decision... going to the Olympics is probably a once in a life time opportunity for most people. I think I would take the chance just like him. If it was a loved one I would want them to do what there heart desired!

If speacilized doctors are comfortable with his decision and he is getting regular checkups to monitor his cancer until he leaves makes his decision a very wise one.

I don't think it is anyone else's place to question Eric Shanteau's decision. Only he knows what he is up against, what is important to him, what it means to him to live life to the fullest. What we think is irrelevant.

I hope he savors every moment of his Olympic experience, whether he wins or not, and goes on to win his fight with cancer. This situation brings a whole new meaning to "once in a lifetime opportunity."

KNOCK ONE OUT OF THE PARK ERIC! AMERICA IS ROOTING FOR YOU ON BOTH FRONTS!

I think its a great decesion..he knows that its early and the olympics are right around the corner so why not live your dream?

Not that it matters what I think of his decision, but I think it was one that only the person involved can make. To have your life-long dream right at your fingertips and not achieve it may fill his future with regret. None the less, it is a heart-crushing story and I will be pulling for him like no other!

Live Strong, Eric!

As a cancer survior myself and also married to one, and as a nurse, I fully agree with this young man's decision. He has obviously had an excellent education from his medical team.
Most people do not realize that cancer can be very slow growing and in the case of a lot of breast cancers, has been there for years to grow to a size that can be identified. The biggest mistake I feel most people make is rushing to treatment without fully educating themselves about THEIR cancer and it's qualities and treatment.

I personally would be very worried should I prolong the start of my therapy. I know that Shanteau has trained for a lifetime for this event, but it seems that he is "going all in" in the amount of risk he is taking. Preferably, an honorable "fold" now could ensure his competitiveness for a long time to come...a luxury possibly not afforded by his current decision.

I agree with his decision. He is doing the right thing by watching it very closely while he waits for the time to take action. He has the right attitude that if something changes he'll change his plans. That is really the best practice. It is a hard decision to make but at the same time, if you are not living your life what's the point in fighting for it? This has been his dream. Would he ever forgive himself for not living it? I know I wouldn't. Honestly, there comes a time when you have to make the decision whether you feel quantity of life or quality of life is more important. Will a few months truly make a difference in this case? My guess would be that it won't have an impact on the final outcome. Sometimes we get pushed into things quickly when we actually have time to make that decision and do our homework first. I suspect he has done that research and know what his options are.

I hope he fights his cancer and wins and then we see him in the Olympics again in four years. That would be a true victory for cancer survivors everywhere.

I respect his decision... He is being reasonably careful. However, I really wouldn't recommend waiting. Cancer can be very unpredictable, and the sooner it's treated, the better. Going through the treatment won't necessarily negate future chances to compete at an international level, even in the Olympics. After all, look at Lance Armstrong. He came back from testicular cancer to win the Tour De France... multiple times!!

Going to the Olympics as a competitor is what a young athlete's life is about. I would hate for him to miss the opportunity. For what – to grow old and dream of what could have been?? He simply MUST go and compete. And I am sure he will do extremely well.

Whether or not I agree doesn't matter. It's his decision, not mine. I doubt most of us could have any idea what we would do in that situation without first having been in it. I just wish him the best.

he is living, not dying. being in the olympics is his dream, and i think it's great that he is going for it. If the doctors are okay with this, then its fine...shanteau has even said that if there is a "blip" on the tests, he will get treatment. He is being smart, while following his dreams. Good luck eric!!

I think any athlete–or person–should listen to his/her own heart and continue to live life fully whether cancer is a factor or not. By competing, Shanteau is showing the world that he will fight his cancer, and cancer will not fight him. Go for the win!

I think his decision to go ahead and participate in the Olympics was
a good thing....He obviously feels well and is in great spirits, and we
alll know that when you good about your self which is soooo important, you tend to do better in every task.....His outlook is that
he isnt ready to just sit down and let this disease destroy his plans.
I agree with him.... Carpe Diem my friend.....

I think the descision is his and his alone. If he were my lover, husband or son, I would say the same thing. Personally, I think it's a well thought out descision – he is continuing to get tests and will react accordingly. I wish him the very best !

As an athlete pursuing such high goals akin to the Olympics, I can completely understand and support his decision.
It may be true that, because the cancer is clearly in such an early stage, a full recovery is probable, but I would rather realize a lifelong dream now than go through treatment only to find that getting back to that level of the sport is impossible.
I think that when the world's biggest stage for a particular event only comes around once every four years, the opportunity to go must be taken when it arises.
When treatment does come, I wish him a speedy recovery so that he's in London in 2012.

I am not a doctor, so I don't know how the delay may affect his outcome. I don't know how fast testicular cancer spreads.

I am sure he weighted his decision with: "IF I do not go to the Olympics, go through treatment, and still possibly die from this – then what have I accomplished with my life?"

I have read about Eric, and I don't think he's taken his decision lightly. I don't know if he has any young children (is he married? – I haven't read about that, so I am assuming he is not), but if he did, I would consider the Olympics a bad decision. His first responsibility would be to his family. But (and I am assuming here) given that he doesn't have any children, he is doing what he wants... maybe even needs to do... and going will probably put him in a better frame of mind to fight the cancer with a positive attitude once all is said and done.

Whether he is an Olympic athlete or not, the decision as to when, where, how or even whether to treat his cancer is HIS decision, no one else's. Deciding to respect another's opinion even while disagreeing is a cornerstone of our society, or at least it is supposed to be.

d

my prayers are with him and i applaud his bravery!...life is too short for regrets...i say DO IT!!!!

Several people have commented that they feel Eric's decision to postpone treatment would be wrong if he has a spouse or children. I have to disagree. As much as we owe our families our lives, they owe us as well. If I were his wife, I would want him to compete and would support him in that quest even if it meant a greater chance I might lose him. As a cancer survivor, I know that the fullness of one's life is more important than its length; Eric's potential emotional reward in going forward with competition greatly outweighs the risks he sustains in postponing treatment.

I support his decision and pray for his health and his Olympic ambitions. He put his time in and watching him reap the rewards will be awesome.

I am not a parent and therefore not able to say weather as a parent I agree or not with his desision I do however think that if he is under a drs advise and that he and the dr. have made this desision with all that medicin can offer and with the grate persentage of people who do get through this diagnosisis alive and understanding that this is his last chance to go for the olimpics that he should go for it because we all live only once and if he did not go for it he would all ways regret it till the day he died however long that may be and none of us knows how long we have. I wish him well and will watch him compeat I hope that he has the time of his life !!!!

Waiting like that may be okay for him personally, but would be extremely hard on family. No person is an island.

His decision makes sense to me. We all have to die sometime. I'd rather die after having had the chance to live my dream than to die without having that chance.

In reading Dr. Gupta's article I believ that
Shanteau has I expect made a decision also based on Medical Advice. As men; we are know for draging out our Medical needs to a sometimes dangerous and unsatisfactory conclusion. I am a male who was born with Spina Bifida. I have been fortunate to live a fruitfull life which I expect and hope to continue as I have a wife and daughter who I plan on watching grow up. We must listen to our bodies and care for them while making educated and rational desicions. I am sure that we all wish Shanteau success in achieving his dreams and winning his battles.

Sebastian Bliffeld

I respect his decision, not to trivialize these diseases in men, but they are much more managable, testicular and prostate cancers are far less aggressive than ovarian and breast. lucky boys.

I respect his decision, because this is Shanteau's chance to participate in the Olympics. I don't intend to sound morbid, but he should try to participate while he can still be at the top of his game. Does everyone still rememember Earvin "Magic" Johnson of the Dream Team?

I can certainly understand his decision. This may be his last chance to do the one thing he wants to do in his life. I hope that he makes a fine recovery after the Olympics are over. Good luck to you!

I agree with his decision. As a 6 year cancer survivor, I remember the day I was told I had early stage 2 throat cancer, I suspected something was wrong, my neck started to swell and I thought my tonsils were infected. Even though I was diagnosed in late August, treatment didn't start until late September. I won't bore you with the details but my doctors then began an aggressive treatment, chemo and radiation at the same time. It was a tough go but it must have worked. I'm still here.
If your oncologist is comfortable with holding off for a few weeks then go for it. It was his life ambition and the SOB called cancer should only be considered a bump in the road.
A good friend and fellow cancer survivor exclaimed that her attitude was that cancer is only a chronic disease that can be beaten with good medical care and a positive attitude.