Survivor winner Ethan Zohn is battling cancer again
Survivor winner Ethan Zohn, who was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2008, recently learned that he is once again battling the disease. Zohn had been in remission since last year after receiving a stem cell transplant following his first cancer recurrence.
The reality star has already begun treatment. On Oct. 18, he received a new “smart” form of chemotherapy, SGN-35, that only targets the cancerous cells. This means, as he told People, “I won’t lose my hair again.” After 12 weeks of treatment, Zohn hopes to undergo another stem-cell transplant from one of his brothers, who is a likely match.
Zohn won Survivor: Africa in 2002 and has dated fellow Survivor winner Jenna Morasca since 2003. The two have also appeared on The Amazing Race together.
In spite of the disheartening news, Zohn still plans to run in the New York City Marathon on Nov. 6 to raise money for his Grassroot Soccer organization, which promotes HIV/AIDS education and prevention.
“The doctors think I’m crazy but they gave me the okay,” he told People. “Cancer isn’t going to slow me down. I want people to know that you can still live a fulfilled life and move forward.”