US Olympic swimmer, Eric Shanteau, has an outstanding chance of living a long life, despite his recent diagnosis with testicular cancer. Without knowing the specifics of his case, it can be said that 96% of testicular cancer patients survive 5+ years beyond their diagnosis, up from 83% in the 1970’s due to improvements in curative treatment. These improvements are due to the introduction of platinum based chemotherapy agents such as cisplatin and carboplatin and the curative removal of lymph nodes in the pelvis. These treatments, while vastly improving survival from multiple cancers, including testicular and ovarian, are no free lunch. Their use is definitely warranted, given the large improvement in cancer survival. However, adverse long term and late effects of these treatments include second primary cancers, lymphedema, cardiovascular sequelae, the metabolic syndrome, neurotoxicity, and pulmonary problems. The good news is that exercise training has been shown to improve many of these conditions in cancer survivors. The American Cancer Society has published guidance for exercise and health eating to minimize, prevent, and rehabilitate long term and late effects of cancer treatment, based on a growing body of evidence published in the scientific peer-reviewed literature. Mr. Shanteau may wish to make up his mind now to maintain his exercise habits and healthy diet for the remainder of his life.
Like Lance Armstrong before him, Mr. Shanteau has an opportunity to be a role model. However, in 2008, we know more about the long term effects of cancer treatment and the potential role exercise may play in maintaining health during and after cancer treatment than we did at the time of Mr. Armstrong’s diagnosis. Perhaps, in the long run, the role Mr. Shanteau can play could include promotion of healthy lifestyles among the 12 million cancer survivors alive in the U.S. today. In the short run, we’ll all cross our fingers for him that his weekly CT scans and blood work allow him to complete his Olympic dream, with his father (a lung cancer survivor) watching from the stands. Good luck and God speed, Eric.
Kathryn H. Schmitz, PhD, MPH, FACSM
Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Abramson Cancer Center
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