pinkie Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Ethan Zohn, the curly-haired soccer player who battled the elements and outwitted opponents to win Survivor: Africa, is facing his toughest adversary yet: cancer. On April 30, Zohn was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's disease. The diagnosis came after months of unexplained itching and night sweats, originally thought to be a skin condition. Doctors discovered a swollen lymph node under his left clavicle, and a CT scan revealed a mass on the left side of his chest. Then, just last week, Zohn learned he is suffering from a rare form the disease called CD20-positive Hodgkin's Lymphoma, for which he began chemotherapy last Friday. "This is the ultimate game of Survivor," Zohn, 35, tells PEOPLE exclusively, "and there's really only one outcome, and that's to win. There's no other option." Hodgkin's disease is a cancer of the body's lymphatic system with survival rates reaching as high as 90 percent. Zohn was told that the CD20 diagnosis, which affects around five percent of all Hodgkin's patients, has a similar cure rate, but is treated with an altered, more aggressive, three-month chemotherapy regimen. "They're going right after this," he says. The chemo is expected to knock the always active and otherwise fit Zohn mostly out of commission for a few months, with nausea and weakness among its side effects. And he's expected to lose his famous mop of hair within two weeks. Zohn's longtime girlfriend, Survivor: The Amazon winner Jenna Morasca, 27, is vowing to be at his side throughout the process. "I will fight with every fabric of my being to get him through this," Morasca tells PEOPLE. Educating, Inspiring Others Both Zohn and Morasca lost parents to cancer. Zohn's father died of colon cancer when Ethan was 14. Morasca's mother died in 2003, after a 12-year battle with breast cancer. "Our only point of reference with this situation is death," says Morasca. Upon hearing the diagnosis, says Zohn, "My life flashed before my eyes." But in the roller coaster of emotions that followed, Zohn came to a conclusion: He wants to use his battle with cancer as way to educate and inspire others. "This is happening for a reason," he tells PEOPLE. "You have to get spiritual about this [stuff]. I know I want to help people and inspire people. That's my purpose in life. So I need to use this as a platform." Zohn, who has worked to raise money and awareness for AIDS relief in Africa through his Grassroot Soccer charity ever since winning Survivor's $1-million prize in 2002, had his first chemo treatment in Manhattan last Friday. Doctors inserted a small, octagonal port in his chest through which the chemo will be administered "like a fast-filling station" every two weeks. "It looks like I have a third nipple right now," says Zohn. "You can call me trip-nip!" He'll face the loss of his hair with the same bravado. "My hair is my identity," he admits. But rather than find "long, disgusting Ethan Zohn hair all over my house," he's decided to shave it off in the next few days: "I'll get a mohawk or something fun that I've always wanted to do." That's just fine with Morasca. "I so love the bad-boy look," she says. "I'd have him get a tattoo and a nose piercing, too, but he's not into it." Bad-boy looks or not, Zohn says he feels well-prepared for the long fight ahead. "I've got good family and friends, and I'll roll with the punches as it comes to me. That's how I work in life. I'll take it on like a real game of Survivor," he says, adding: "I'm not getting voted out of this one." Hope he is ok.. one of my favorite survivors Link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayo Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Wow, I hope all goes well with the treatments- thanks for posting this. Glad to hear that Jenna and Ethan are still together and she'll be there for him through this battle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElleNaturelle Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Wow, that's very sad. I can't imagine how afraid he must be. My thoughts and prayers are with him throughout this time. Money really isn't anything at all. The greatest win is a good bill of health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowpoke Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Sad news.... for sure Sounds like he's going to tackle this thing head on.... I wish him well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SugarB Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Here's hoping he can beat this. But chemo sucks, so it's going to be a rough road I'm sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King123 Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=409742>1=28103 I thought there was a "In the media" thread, but I couldnt find it, so if you wish feel free to move it.. Nearly a decade after winning $1,000,000 on "Survivor: Africa," Ethan Zhon tells People magazine he is being treated for stage 2 Hodgkin's disease. He began chemotherapy last Friday for the mass doctors discovered on the left side of his chest that turned out to be a rare form of cancer called CD20-positive Hodgkin's lymphoma. "This is the ultimate game of 'Survivor'," Zohn, 35, says in the exclusive interview, "and there's really only one outcome, and that's to win. There's no other option." Although survival rates for Hodgkin's disease are high at 90%, the chemotherapy regimen for this particular form of the illness is intense. The soccer player will undergo three months of radiation treatment, according to the magazine. His longtime girlfriend and "Survivor: The Amazon" winner Jenna Morasca, 27, tells People she plans to "fight with every fabric of [her] being" to help her boyfriend defeat the cancer. Both Zohn and Morasca lost parents to cancer, leading the couple to associate the disease only with death, Morasca says. But Zohn, who has campaigned for AIDS awareness and research in Africa through his charity, Grassroot Soccer, says he intends to use this experience to help others. "This is happening for a reason," he says. "You have to get spiritual about this [stuff]. I know I want to help people and inspire people. That's my purpose in life. So I need to use this as a platform." Zohn's outlook is positive, and he points out he's lucky enough to have good friends and family by his side and that he's ready to "roll with the punches. "I'll take it on like a real game of 'Survivor'," he says. "I'm not getting voted out of this one." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princessb65 Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Yeah, I have two friends going through chemo right now; one has breast cancer 9 her first time) and the other has Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomia for the second time. It does suck. I hope that all get well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 That is sad. I like Ethan. I am sure being a SURVIVOR he will fight the good battle and be cancer free one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erinjs Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 He was one of my fav winners. I hope he pulls through ok. He's so young... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laladoopiedu Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Sad sad. I hope his body accepts the new treatment better. Ethan Zohn: 'My Cancer Is Back' Just last month, for the first time since being diagnosed with a rare form of Hodgkin's disease in April Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erinjs Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Yah I read that. Makes me sad too, he was one of my favourites ever. So fricken nice, and cute too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thequeenjoni Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Not for nothing but, here's a nice guy - and then there's a jerk off like Fairplay walking around healthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 I hope he makes another recovery. I really liked Ethan in his season. He is one of the good guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slimcruz Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 I adore Ethan. He had it all. Now this. I hope he manages to win this battle, too. Shalom, Ethan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SugarB Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Poor guy. We had a friend about 10 years ago that had a similar form of cancer and he was gone within about 6 months. But let's hope some of the new therapies they have come up with since then will save Ethan. Great guy - sucks that he is having to deal with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyngirl Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 My heart and prayers are with you Ethan, I lost my best friend to this disease at a very young 39 less than 6 months after she was diagnosed Stay strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laladoopiedu Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Dish Of Salt: Ethan Zohn: 'Surviving' Cancer "Survivor: Africa" winner Ethan Zohn got some incredible news recently in his battle against a rare from of Hodgkin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinkie Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 I really hope he is going to be ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Good news! I really liked him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SugarB Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 He's such a cutie - hope he does well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slimcruz Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Ethan is one of my faves. I am hoping he will be okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sisu power Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 I really enjoyed watching him in his season. courageous,strong and personable. I also really hopes he can beat this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dade Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Ethan Zohn Versus Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Round 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinkie Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 I just read that at people.com Dade I really hope he can beat it again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SugarB Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Sad, sad news. Love Ethan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.