Scott Hamilton Keeps Fighting for Cancer Warriors Everywhere
- Former Olympic skater Scott Hamilton has survived multiple brain tumors and testicular cancer. Now, he’s training to bike 444 miles for an event with his charity to raise money for research for a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma.
- Symptoms of testicular cancer can be subtle. Some people may even confuse the early symptoms such as a small mass in their testicle as an injury. But when these signs are dismissed, the cancer can grow and become worse.
- Self examinations are incredibly important when it comes to screening for testicular cancer. Men aged 15 to 55 should perform a monthly self-examination to find any changes in the testes that might indicate cancer at an early stage.
In honor of Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, we’d like to turn your attention to none other than 63-year-old figure-skating icon Hamilton who, since beating the disease, has continued to inspired cancer warriors everywhere. Most recently, he’s decided to do the 2nd Annual Erase the Trace ride in May an event set up by the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation which was created to help fund cancer treatment research.
Read More“Last year's Erase The Trace inspired me like no other event we have ever done,” he said for a statement on the event page. “The hope, drive, and bravery of Glioblastoma patient Scott Williams awakened a part of my heart that I hadn't realized needed awakening. The instant we welcomed Scott to the finish line at the end of his ride, I knew it was something I had to do next year.”
The excitement of the event is likely brewing for Hamilton as he nears the start date of Tuesday, May 3.
“I can't wait to feel the wind in my face, the burn of my legs, and the pounding of my heart as I too rise to the 444-mile challenge,” his statement reads. “I am so excited to know that with each push of the pedal, we are getting that much closer to positively changing outcomes for people facing brain cancer."
But joining in for the full bike ride will be no east feat. It’s a five-day ride along the Natchez Trace Parkway which goes through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. He’s currently working with Nashville-based craniosacral therapist and record-holding cyclist Johnny Burrell to prepare for the event.
“Even to this day, I don't believe I truly understand the magnitude of the ride I'm about to go on,” Hamilton said in a recent interview. “I am grateful for the experience of Johnny Burrell, who has taken me out to the most difficult portion of the Natchez Trace to check out my physical ability to handle it.
“I am hoping and praying that I am strong enough to complete the ride… I know between Johnny and Scott Williams, both of whom have completed the ride, I will be in the best hands possible. And hopefully my nerves won't get the best of me.”
Scott Hamilton’s Cancer/Tumor Journey
Hamilton was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1997, a benign (noncancerous) brain tumor in 2004, another one in 2010 and yet another benign brain tumor in 2016. But all the while, the skating star continued living his best life. He met his wife, nutritionist Tracie Robinson, 64, in 1999 and married two years later. He also has four children with Robinson two of whom they adopted from Haiti.
As of October 2021, he said he's gone five years without any chemotherapy to date, though his brain tumor tends to oscillate between shrinking and growing. In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Hamilton spoke about the attitude he’s taken during his cancer and tumor journey.
"I choose to make the most of each day by enjoying the people and moments that I've been given and I encourage everyone to remember that we don't control the number of days we have on Earth, we only control what we do with them," Hamilton said.
He did say, however, that he struggles with the uncertainty of cancer.
"With chemo, I didn't know how sick I was going to be. I asked my doctor and he said, 'Moderate to severe.' And I go, 'What does moderate to severe mean?' He took a second and said, 'Moderate to severe,'" Hamilton said, laughing. "So, you're flying blind. It's that step in the dark that's really frightening. So in my survivorship, I just decided to solve [those] problems."
But taking in his cancer journey as a whole, Hamilton feels he is better for it.
"Looking back on those stressful days of dealing with the tumors, I am reminded that without that undiagnosed brain tumor, I never would have started skating," he said. "The tumor stunted growth, so I wouldn't otherwise be the perfect size for skating."
Understanding Testicular Cancer
A testicular cancer diagnosis is rare, but it is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in young men. Depending on the stage, the disease is considered extremely treatable. Treatment options can include chemotherapy and radiation, but often the first line of treatment is surgery to remove the testicle which contains the cancerous cells.
Dealing With the Shame That May Come With Testicular Cancer
Symptoms of testicular cancer can be subtle. Some people may even confuse the early symptoms such as a small mass in their testicle as an injury. But when these signs are dismissed, the cancer can grow and become worse.
RELATED: 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Was Diagnosed With Testicular Cancer
"It's not uncommon to see men come in with masses on their scrotum and have inflammation of the scrotal wall; they develop pain as a result. A lump is the most common symptom of testicular cancer," Dr. Edwin Posadas, the medical director of the Urologic Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai Cancer, previously told SurvivorNet.
Dr. Posadas says some men may even notice blood in their ejaculate as a result of testicular cancer. "This symptom is less common, but always bad," he said.
Other symptoms can include:
- Breast growth or soreness
- Early puberty in boys
- Low back pain (a potential symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, or a cough (a potential symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
- Belly pain (a potential symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
- Headaches or confusion (a potential symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
Dr. Posadas urges young men to seek medical care if they are having symptoms. "Most men under the age of 40 tend not to think about seeing a doctor they need to know to advocate for themselves," he said.
Screening for Testicular Cancer
Testicular self-examination is one way to screen for this disease, Dr. Posadas says.
"It takes less than a minute," Dr. Posadas previously told SurvivorNet. "Rub testicles through your fingers looking for any sore areas. Rub the top of the testicle, particularly the delicate epididymis. (The epididymis is a tube at the back of the testicles which stores and carries sperm.)
"Don't squeeze real hard on there… [You should] look for a smoother feel; if you feel a hard nodule on there, you may require blood work from a urologist. [Testicular cancer] is highly curable, even when it's advanced."
If You're Worried Go to the Doctor
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Bradley McGregor, clinical director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, also emphasized the importance of self-examinations.
"It is recommended that men aged 15 to 55 perform a monthly self-examination to find any changes to help find the cancer at an early stage," Dr. McGregor said. And if someone spots any of the early symptoms, "he should visit his doctor immediately." It's important to be aware of your body and get in touch with a doctor if you notice anything unusual.
"Testicular cancer commonly occurs from ages 20-45, but it can occur at any age," Dr. McGregor continued. "The highest risk factor for testicular cancer is a history of cryptorchidism, an undescended testicle, where the testicle does not move down into the scrotum before birth. Men with a family history of testicular cancer are at increased risk as well. No lifestyle changes have been shown to definitively reduce risk of testicular cancer."
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