Finding Purpose Amid Health Challenges
- Olympic gold medalist and testicular cancer survivor Scott Hamilton, 65, says when he was diagnosed with his third benign brain tumor, he chose to forego surgery, to the surprise of his doctors. More surprisingly, the tumor started shrinking before gradually growing in size again. He reserves the option to undergo radiation therapy if the benign tumor calls for more aggressive treatment.
- Most pituitary tumors are benign (non-cancerous), grow slowly, and do not spread to other body parts. However, they may cause problematic symptoms, which may include headaches, vision problems, nausea, and vomiting.
- Testicular cancer begins in the cells that make sperm. Fortunately for men with this kind of cancer, “it can be cured, even if diagnosed at an advanced stage,” according to the National Cancer Institute. It often presents a painless mass in the testicle.
- Testicular cancer often comes with stigma and shame for people diagnosed with the disease, sometimes preventing them from talking about it openly.
Olympic figure skater Scott Hamilton, 65, isn’t just a gold medalist; he’s also a cancer survivor. The resilient father of four has endured testicular cancer and multiple brain tumors. Stunningly, he chose to bypass direct treatment for his most recent benign (non-cancerous) brain tumor, and with that decision, he’s experienced it shrink and grow over time.
Hamilton previously told SurvivorNet, “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,” during an interview.
It’s been 45 years since I lost my beautiful mother Dorothy to breast cancer. I miss her more and more each day. Today, I choose to celebrate, honor and remember her and the cherished time I was able to spend with her on earth. She was truly the best mother I could have asked for pic.twitter.com/oF7mTRIqjx
— Scott Hamilton (@ScottHamilton84) May 8, 2022
Hamilton would have his own run-in with cancer beginning in the late 1990s. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1997.
Testicular cancer begins in the cells that make sperm. Fortunately for men with this kind of cancer, “it can be cured, even if diagnosed at an advanced stage,” according to the National Cancer Institute. It often presents a painless mass in the testicle.
According to the New York Times, Hamilton’s treatment involved chemotherapy to reduce the size of his tumor (which was located in his abdomen) before having surgery in late June 1997. During surgery, the tumor and his right testicle were removed.
“The fear was beyond anything I had ever experienced,” Hamilton previously told Coping Magazine. “It was after I survived that I felt I could endure anything.”
Then, a few years later, in 2004, Hamilton was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma, which is a type of benign brain tumor. He had a successful surgery on his tumor, but in 2010, he was diagnosed with another benign brain tumor. Then, in 2016, he was diagnosed with his third benign pituitary tumor.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), pituitary tumors are small and form at the base of the brain.
“Most pituitary tumors are benign, which means they are non-cancerous, grow slowly, and do not spread to other parts of the body,” the NINDS says. However, they may cause problematic symptoms for people diagnosed with these types of tumors. Headaches, vision problems, nausea, and vomiting are known symptoms of pituitary tumors.
Instead of undergoing surgery for this third tumor, Hamilton chose to do nothing, to his doctor’s amazement simply.
“All I felt was just, don’t worry about this. Just go home and get strong,” Hamilton told People Magazine.
More stunning, when he came back for regular scans to monitor the tumor’s behavior, doctors saw that it was shrinking.
“I went back to the scan three months later, and they said it hadn’t grown. I go back three months later, and they go, it shrank 45%. I said to my surgeon, ‘Can you explain this?’ And he said, ‘God.’ I went back in, and it shrunk 25% again,” Hamilton added.
Hamilton said when he went for another scan, the tumor had grown a bit but not to worrisome levels.
“The ace I have up my sleeve is that now there is a targeted radiation therapy that will shrink the tumor. I can avoid a lot of other things like surgery and chemo. So, I don’t know. I’m mostly trying to be in the moment, taking all the information, and doing the right thing when the time comes,” Hamilton said.
View this post on Instagram
While living with the possibility of his benign tumor resurfacing in the future, the Olympian and cancer advocate continue focusing on his cancer foundation and his family.
“I never would’ve thought to dream that one day I would found a cancer organization that’s actually going to have an impact and save lives,” Hamilton said.
“To have my children and just how amazing they are, and my wife and how amazing she is? I never would’ve thought to dream any of it,” he continued.
Helping Patients Cope with Testicular Cancer
- 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Was Diagnosed With Testicular Cancer
- 5 Important Facts About Testicular Cancer, Including How to Screen for the Disease
- At-Home Pregnancy Tests Don’t Detect Testicular Cancer; How to Understand What's Actually Valid Health Information
- Dealing With the Shame That May Come With Testicular Cancer
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 highly 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.
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.
Dr. Edwin Posadas, the medical director of the Urologic Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai Cancer, previously told SurvivorNet that 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.
“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. Posadas adds.
Men should regularly conduct self-exams of their testicles for anything unusual.
Testicular Cancer 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 possible symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
- Belly pain (a possible symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
- Headaches or confusion (a possible symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
Questions for Your Doctor
If you are facing testicular cancer and want to understand your diagnosis better, consider the following questions for your doctor.
- Has my testicular cancer spread beyond the testicle?
- What stage is my cancer in?
- What other tests should I expect as I continue learning more about the disease?
- What are my treatment options?
- What side effects should I expect with the recommended treatment?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.