Eric Shanteau: Auburn alum and former Tiger swimmer, will be competing in the 2008 Olympics being held in Beijing. Shanteau also has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and will be delaying surgery until after he competes. MEDIA RELATIONS
Former Auburn swimmer Eric Shanteau is not going to let anything slow him down at the Olympic Games in Beijing next month — not even cancer.
June 17, just one week before Shanteau left for Olympic trials, the 24-year-old received the overwhelming news that he has testicular cancer.
“When they tell you something like that, you think it’s not real, that it’s not happening,” Shanteau said. “I felt numb because I had so many emotions going through me that I couldn’t put my finger on which one was taking over.”
Jerri Moss, Shanteau’s girlfriend of two years, was the one who insisted he go see a doctor after he discovered a lump.
“I was devastated for him,” said Moss, also a former Auburn swimmer. “But I’m his rock. I don’t get to be the sad one. I’ve got to stay strong for him.”
The good news is one of the best oncologists in the field has taken on Shanteau’s case.
After the diagnosis, Shanteau’s coaches got him in touch with Bill Stapleton, agent to Lance Armstrong, who is well known for beating testicular cancer and returning to cycling to win seven consecutive Tour de France titles. Stapleton contacted Dr. Lawrence Einhorn, who was Armstrong’s main doctor, and Einhorn took over.
After the diagnosis, Shanteau returned home to Austin, Texas, and made one of the hardest decisions he’s ever made — to delay a surgery, that would put him out of competition, until after he returns from swimming in the 200 meter breaststroke in Beijing.
“This is the biggest meet of my life, and I had to make a choice,” the Georgia native said. “I decided that (the cancer) was not going to slow me down.”
Testicular cancer, when caught early, has a higher cure rate than most other forms of cancer because the testicle can be removed completely. As long as the cancer doesn’t spread to other parts of Shanteau’s body, Moss said the doctors have told them the surgery should take care of it.
However, by postponing surgery, Shanteau is risking the possibility of having to go through chemotherapy or more operations, but his doctors won’t know for sure until the initial surgery begins.
If at any point there are signs of the cancer spreading, Shanteau has said he will drop out.
“We became extremely knowledgeable on everything,” Moss said. “We felt that putting off the surgery was going to be OK, and the doctors were so incredibly supportive. It was not an easy decision, but it was not a stupid one either. It was a well-informed decision that was made with a lot of guts by Eric.”
After finishing third in two events in 2004 and missing out on the Olympics, Shanteau finished second in the 200 m breaststroke July 3, earning a spot on the 2008 team.
Shanteau is currently training in Palo Alto, Calif. He leaves for Singapore tomorrow for eight days before traveling to Beijing, where he will begin competition Aug. 12.
His story of courage, whether he likes it, has become an inspiring one across the country.
“Eric didn’t want to be the poster child, but he was dealt the cards and has played them beautifully,” Moss said. “I am incredibly proud of him.”
David Marsh, former head coach at Auburn, said he believes, despite the circumstances, Shanteau will be able to keep his concentration on swimming while in Beijing.
“He doesn’t want to deny the cancer, but knowing him, he’ll want to keep his focus on simple things, like going down one wall to the other,” Marsh said. “I know the Auburn nation, his teammates and his coaches will keep him in their prayers.”
