Published Sep 4, 2020

“Survivor” Champion Ethan Zohn Says Meditation & Mindfulness Helped Him Battle Lymphoma

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Mindfulness Can Help

Survivor’s Ethan Zohn says practicing mindfulness and meditation helped him battle lymphoma
Zohn was diagnosed with CD20-positive Hodgkin's lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy, radiation and two stem cell transplants for treatment
Meditation can be a helpful resource in letting cancer patients manage their emotions, and let them escape reality for a moment

“Survivor” champion Ethan Zohn is no stranger to pushing his body to the limits, but during his battle with blood cancer lymphoma, he put his physical strength aside in order to focus his mind. September marks blood cancer awareness month, a disease that’s a collection of over 100 different cancers and affects nearly 200,000 Americans each year.

Two-time cancer survivor Zohn, 46, was diagnosed with CD20-positive Hodgkin's lymphoma when he was just 35-years-old. He underwent chemotherapy, radiation and two stem cell transplants for treatment, which is an understandably difficult and isolating experience. However, now in remission, Zohn is sharing some much-needed advice to those recently diagnosed, and how he coped through treatment.

According to Zohn, he practiced mindfulness and tried to explore creative outlets throughout his cancer treatment especially while recovering in isolation after the stem cell transplants. Mindfulness is a common soothing technique cancer patients use, as it lets them escape reality for a minute and let their mind calm down. “Being creative sparks your mind in a different way and helps pass the time in isolation,” Zohn tells CURE.

A cancer diagnosis is always a shock, and many people often don’t know where to turn for answers. Zohn’s been there, and he’s sharing some much-needed, and thoughtful, advice for those about to embark on their personal cancer journeys.

“My advice for someone who’s facing a recent diagnosis is to surround yourself with the family and friends that care for you the most," says Zohn. "Be vulnerable and open enough to ask for and receive help, as well. I think that’s important.”

SurvivorNet shares a guided meditation for our community

Practicing Mindfulness During Cancer Treatment

A cancer diagnosis can take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions, such as anxiety, confusion, anger, and more. It can be hard to successfully work through these emotions, and many cancer survivors have said trying to clear their mind and distract themselves has helped them stay positive.

Meditation is a form of mindfulness that’s not always easy to practice, but once you get the hang of it, it’s shown positive results for those facing cancer. When Shannon Masur was facing both colon cancer and Lynch Syndrome at the same time, she took advice from her friends to get into meditation, and even though she thought it would be difficult in the beginning she was pleasantly surprised.

“I thought it would be such a challenge, but it really wasn’t,” Masur says. “[My guide] taught me how, when a thought comes in, to feel it and feel the fear but let it go after a few seconds, taking time to sit and just kind of get thoughts out, get all of the negative out of my brain for ten minutes or an hour. Just having that sense of calmness that comes into me when I’m meditating has been really helpful for me.”

Shannon Masur explains how meditation helped her cope with colon cancer

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