Scott Hamilton has faced numerous health challenges throughout his life, from cancer to multiple brain tumors, but credits his faith with getting him through the toughest times. Masu.
The 65-year-old Olympic gold medalist stopped by. jennifer hudson shaw On April 18, he reflected on his experience with three brain tumors and revealed that he had relied heavily on his faith in the nearly 30 years since he was first diagnosed with cancer.
Hamilton was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1997 and spoke to Jennifer Hudson about that first hurdle.
He made a successful recovery after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, but faced three benign pituitary tumors in 2004, 2010 and 2016. Hudson, 42, describes the beginning of his checkered health journey. . It was just one of those things. I told his wife that without hesitation. She just took my hand and started praying. ”
“And that was the most powerful…I've had a lot of big moments, but that was probably the biggest one,” he said.
Hamilton then detailed the initial biopsy in which doctors took the tumor, which revealed he was “born with a tumor,” calling it “really wild.” is.
“Then six years later it came back and I had a surgery that didn't go as planned, resulting in nine surgeries,” he continued. “And six years later, here's a pattern emerging. I came back again, but this time I just felt… They gave me surgical options and medical options, and All I felt was what I was feeling in the back of my head: Be strong. That was it. Just be strong. ”
When asked by his medical team if he wanted surgery or drugs to treat the tumor, Hamilton instead replied, “I'm going to go home and get stronger.” And they said, “What does that look like?” And I said, “I don't know.” That's just how I feel. ” ”
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Although the tumor continued to shrink by “45%” without treatment, he recalled a particularly powerful conversation with his doctor after learning the news.
“I said to the surgeon, 'Can you explain that to me?' And he said, 'God.' I said, “That's enough for me.” ”
At the time, Hamilton told People: In other words, I experienced a great miracle. ”
Ms Hudson admitted she felt “chills” after hearing the story.
“This is a living testimony,” she said.
“My faith has never been stronger, I've never been stronger emotionally and intellectually,” Hamilton said of his decision not to seek treatment.
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The ice skating legend, who won a gold medal in figure skating at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Games, told PEOPLE in February that her choice not to undergo treatment was “just responding to my spirit.”
However, although the tumor had shrunk in size, it had grown back in size.
“Then COVID-19 happened and it became almost impossible to be admitted to any kind of hospital. So, mentally, in my inner being, I would never go to a hospital again unless I had symptoms.” “I found myself completely at ease without even having to do anything,” he says. Shared.
Hamilton continues to choose not to treat the tumor, but that doesn't mean he won't change his mind in the future if needed.
“The trump card I have is that we now have targeted radiotherapy to shrink the tumor,” he said. “That allows me to avoid a lot of other things, like surgery and chemotherapy…I mainly focus on being in the moment and having all the information so that when the time comes, We try to do the right thing.”
