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 ]
