Shanteau Will Go to Beijing 2008

                                                                                         

US National team swimmer Erick Shanteau who was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer; made an announcement regarding his surgery which will be postponed until the conclusion of the Olympic Games at the end of August.

Shanteau was diagnosed with the disease during the month of June and since that moment he has been under close monitoring but there have no signs the cancer is spreading to other parts of the body. Last week the athlete was given the latest blood samples through which he has been given the green light to participate in Beijing.

The US team is scheduled to leave on Friday the 25th to Singapore where they will have a final training round before the official competition starts around August 9th. Shanteau’s second step will be to have his surgery as soon at the Emory University Hospital as soon as he comes back from the Olympics. "I'll be able to take a couple of days after the swimming to relax, enjoy the Games and the city, get out and see some things," he said. "Then I've got to get back and take care of this."

Shanteau’s hard work made him deserved a place in the Olympic team when he claimed it by surpassing Brenda Hansen and only one week after he was given the surprising diagnose. At the point he had to make the decision of either have surgery right away and erase his hopes to participate in the Olympic Games or wait and monitor his condition while attending the games.

The situation has been very difficult for Shanteau as also his father was diagnosed with lung cancer less than a year ago. The swimmer himself has stated that he now understands his father much better and hopes to help him overcome this current situation... "You don't want anyone in your family to have cancer. When I got it, it was kind of like insult to injury. "But as far as I'm concerned, it's helped me to kind of relate to what he's going through a little more. I understand the process and the mentality of having cancer." the swimmer said.

The swimmer’s personal coach who has been very close to Shanteau for the past years has made clear the athlete is a very strong person – a fighter – and he is now focusing on the things that really matter as it is this competition itself in order to get in good shape and be able to achieve a medal for the United States.

Once Shanteau discovered he had cancer he made a choice to change his mentality towards a better life – a life more gratifying for him as well as to be able to make the best effort possible to win in Beijing which he has mentioned is his current goal and he will make sure it becomes reality. On the other hand; he is very aware that he requires constant monitoring and that he will have the surgery as soon as he returns from his participation.

About the author:
Claudia Beckford provides outstanding 2008 Beijing Olympic Games content as well as information in the sports betting industry.

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