Zhon, who finished the 26.2 mile race with an unofficial time of 4 hours, 20 minutes and 46 seconds, (just 4 minutes off his previous year’s time of 4:16) said his main purposes for running were to raise money for his Grassroot Soccer organization – which aims to take on the AIDS epidemic in Africa – and to send a “message of hope” to others suffering from cancer, HIV and anything else that keeps them down.

“Cancer’s not going to slow me down,” Zhon, 37, told E!Online, “and it’s not going to slow anyone else down. I’m going to continue to charge forward and do the things that I love. “I know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a horrible diagnosis, and I want to do everything in my power to make sure nobody else has to go through the same crap that I’m going through, [whether that's] cancer, HIV, etc.”

To prepare for the big race Zohn says he focused more on his diet, eliminating white flour and sugar, eating more complex carbohydrates, fish and whole grains, and supplementing with Muscle Milk and Soy Joy bars to keep his weight up. He also credits SGN-35, a new smart chemotherapy which only targets the cancerous cells, with providing him the ability to continue training.

“If I was on the other type of chemo, I wouldn’t be able to run,” Ethan told People magazine.

Following the marathon, which also saw a handful of other celebs running for good causes,  Zohn took to Twitter to thank his fans:

“Everyone who was supporting me and GRS gave me the strength to finish! THANK YOU,” he posted Sunday night. “I kinda love everyone right now.”

Ethan Zohn Stands Up to Cancer, Finishes NYC Marathon is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ethan Zohn, 37, a former winner on the CBS reality game show Survivor has announced that his Hodgkin’s lymphoma has returned.

Zohn told People magazine that after 20 months in remission cancer was found localized in his chest.

Tweeting about his condition  Zohn said on Wednesday:

“I have taken all the fear instilled by this disease & transformed it into something fear itself should be afraid of.”

Originally diagnosed in 2008 Zohn says he is now taking the drug SGN-35 and noted that he may receive another stem cell transplant from one of his brothers.

SGN-35 (Adcentris) was only approved for use by the FDA in August 2011 and is meant to stop the growth of tumors in patients who  have relapsed after receiving traditional cancer fighting procedures. SGN-35 is a very promising drug which according to the New England Journal of Medicine saw tumor regression in 36 of 42 patients who were given the drug during trials.

According to the American Cancer Society survival rates vary based on the cancer’s stage while 65% of people with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma survive compared to 90% of people who are treated when Stage 1 is discovered.

Regardless of his current diagnosis the motivational speaker says he still plans to run in the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 6.

Are you impressed with Zohn’s attitude during this most recent battle with cancer?

[Image via Steve Broer / Shutterstock.com]

‘Survivor’ Winner Ethan Zohn’s Cancer Returns is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ethan Zohn, Survivor: Africa winner has been diagnosed with a rare cancer known as Stage 2 Hodgkin’s disease.

Ethan Zohn began chemotherapy on Friday as treatment for the rare cancer, CD20-positive Hodgkin’s disease. The cancer was discovered months after a skin condition developed complications. His doctor found that Zohn had an abnormally swollen lymph node under his left collar bone and CT scans showed a mass inside his chest.

Ethan Zohn Cancer has High Survival rate

Hodgkin’s disease affects the body’s lymph system and is successfully treated in about 90% of cases. Zohn’s treatment will include three-months of intense chemotherapy.

Ethan Zohn’s and his girlfriend, Jenna Morasca have been using their fame to travel to less fortunate countries promoting AIDS awareness and prevention.

Ethan Zohn, Survivor: Africa Winner Diagnosed With Rare Cancer is a post from: The Inquisitr