For athletes training for such a historic event such as the Olympics, encouragement and support is critical. Olympian Shannon Miller not only represented team USA as a champion on the balance beam, but clinched victory over ovarian cancer. Now, she’s sharing some much-needed encouragement for her fellow athletes.
On Instagram, Miller, 43, shared a sweet boomerang of her sporting her USA Olympics jacket alongside an encouraging message to all the athletes training for their upcoming seasons. While COVID-19 might have cancelled the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, that doesn’t mean athletes have stopped training.
Read MoreIn addition to enjoying victory at the Olympics, she’s also won the gold in personal struggles. In 2011, Miller was diagnosed with germ cell ovarian cancer a rare form of the disease. She’s been cancer-free for nine years, and still works to raise awareness about the disease and treatment options for women affected.
"But as a survivor, as the daughter of a survivor, a friend of so many survivors, I hope to continue to raise awareness of … research so that these incredible people can continue to help us fight the good fight each and every day. Immunotherapy is critical in the battle against all cancers,” Miller told SurvivorNet.
Olympian and cancer survivor Shannon Miller shares a special message with SurvivorNet
Encouragement Through Cancer Treatment: It’s Important
Similar to a sporting competition, those battling cancer need to make sure they’re in a positive mindset and focusing on their health in order to successfully get through treatment.
"We call it 'eye of the tiger,’" Dr. Sid Ganguly, Deputy Director of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics at the University of Kansas Medical Center, tells SurvivorNet. "You have to have the eye of the tiger to go through this grueling process that is necessary these days to get rid of these virulent and aggressive cancers."
The “eye of the tiger” mindset includes a healthy diet, regular exercise, and most importantly, a positive attitude. It’s understandable that many cancer patients may struggle to feel optimistic during treatment, but numerous experts have said the patients who are able to remain positive typically have better results. One of the main ways those battling cancer can remain positive is through a caring and encouraging support system.
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