High School Football Player Battling Hodgkin Lymphoma Raises Over $8,000 for Cancer Research; Says He is ‘Trying to Smile As Much as I Can’ Through His Cancer Fight

The Wayzata, Minnestoa student is continuing to pursue his passion football even through his cancer journey. Speaking with KARE11, Simon’s coach, Wayzata head coach Lambert Brown, says, "Jack’s a competitor. He started for us as a sophomore. He’s kind of somebody everybody likes to be around; he's a joy to coach.”

Here's my story tonight on @iamjacksimon – quite the inspiration!! Way to go Jack!!https://t.co/OFWDTET6Jo

— Randy Shaver (@rshaver11) September 16, 2022

The High Schooler’s Lymphoma Journey

Simon is a junior, and he says when he got his diagnosis, it was “pretty scary.” He tells KARE11, "The night that it happened, they told us we had to rush to Children's Hospital to get this checked out.”

"Trying to smile as much as I can. Smiling is contagious." Jack Simon, Hodgkin lymphoma fight

In April, Simon’s doctors discovered a cancerous mass on his chest. Tests later revealed it was Hodgkin lymphoma. Other symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma may include swelling around the armpits or groin, persistent fatigue, fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, and severe itching. Speak with your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

Recalling the time of his diagnosis, Simon says, "I mean, I had a lot of tears. [I was] scared; didn’t know what was happening.”

Simon’s coach has praised his approach to the health challenge. Brown says, "Jack has been a model of mental toughness and how to handle adversity.”

Simon affirms that he’s trying to keep a positive attitude, saying, “[I’m] trying to smile as much as I can. Smiling is contagious.” Simon is using his diagnosis to spread awareness for Tackle Cancer, a local initiative raising money for cancer research. He has already raised $8,000 for cancer research.

"I want to inspire people with my story," he says. "I’m just a kid playing football; there’s nothing special about me," says Simon. "I’m still out there, part of the team; don’t want special treatment. I don’t think I deserve anything more than other people deserve just because I’m going through a hard time.”

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Understanding Lymphoma

Lymphoma begins in white blood cells called lymphocytes. This kind of cancer is typically classified as either Hodgkin lymphoma or Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The distinction between lies in the white blood cells linked to the disease. If doctors are unable to detect the Reed-Sternberg cell (a giant cell derived from B lymphocytes), then it is categorized as Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

In a previous interview, Dr. Elise Chong, a medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, says lymphoma symptoms can be difficult to detect. "The symptoms of lymphoma, especially if you have a low-grade lymphoma, often are no symptoms. People say, but I feel completely fine, and that's very normal," she explains.

Dr. Elise Chong explains why your type of lymphoma matters

Keeping a Positive Attitude Through Cancer

We love to see cancer fighters and thrivers like Jack Simon who are keeping a positive attitude through their cancer battle.

Anecdotal evidence from SurvivorNet experts points to how a positive mindset and gratitude can positively impact a cancer prognosis.

One oncologist at Cedars-Sinai tells SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, "My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they're diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now doesn't that mean I'm good at saying that the cancer won't grow," he says.

"But I'm pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life."

Stay Positive, It Matters

 

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