How Former NFL Star Russell Wilson’s Coach Alex Peavey Uses Mindfulness To Reframe Cancer Pain: ‘I Have Control Over This Moment, Not Tomorrow’

Nearly a decade after his initial diagnosis, Peavey continues to embrace life with a deep sense of presence and gratitude, even after facing a second cancer diagnosis in May 2020.

He shares his journey in SurvivorNet’s “Men Beating The Odds” film series, which highlights inspiring stories of resilience, survival, and strength from men navigating life after a prostate cancer diagnosis.

RELATED: Alex Peavey’s Ripple Effect: How A Coach, Father, & Cancer Survivor Is Inspiring Others Through The Power Of Presence

Peavey, a dad of two and loving husband, says in the film, “When I am using mindfulness to help me through pain, physiological pain, like there’s a lot of that with cancer.

“The counterintuitive approach to dealing with pain is to actually turn right towards it. And that’s daunting. When I focus on the pain that I feel in my body, what I start noticing first is all the parts of my body that don’t hurt.”

He explains further, “And it’s because of that yin and yang. There’s a little bit of good inside bad, and there’s a little bit of bad inside the good.

“It’s recognizing that if my pain is this big, what if I expand that mindfulness out just enough to feel the area around that pain, and then feel the area around that, and the area around that. And the irony is, I’ve never felt the best parts of my body more than I have as a result of pain being the doorway there.”

When reflecting on his current outlook, Peavey says he focuses on making the most of each day. He shared that feeling well enough to take action toward the future is what gives today meaning, reminding himself that he can embrace the present even when tomorrow remains uncertain.

“I can maximize this day with my family because I have control over this moment, not what happens tomorrow,” he says.

Looking back on the impact Coach Peavey had during his formative years, Russell Wilson, 37, who spent 14 seasons in the NFL, including the majority of his career with the Seattle Seahawks, shares his thoughts on the lasting influence of his former coach.

“I think great coaches are actually great teachers. And ironically, he was probably one of the best teachers I’ve ever had,” Wilson says

“Coach Peavy put life into me. He taught me how to think. He taught me how to write. He taught me how to lay out a story with a dream big. And he was that guy who always believed in me.”

Peavey began integrating mindfulness into both his personal life and coaching philosophy after drawing inspiration from legendary Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson and his book “Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior,” which explores how mindfulness, self-awareness, teamwork, and inner discipline can shape athletes both on and off the court.

He ultimately created the Peavey Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mindfulness as a practice to support mental well-being, improve everyday performance, and strengthen communities.

As for what Wilson has learned from his beloved coach, he adds, “I think so many of us, we get fearful of this word mindfulness, and what does this mean and everything else. It just means that the ability to realign with the moment over and over and over and over again.

“And I think that can be when you’re fighting cancer, that can be in the middle of a football game or basketball game. That can be in the middle of, you know, a tough day at work or a great day at work.”

Peavey’s wife, Sarah, has also witnessed how deeply mindfulness is woven into his everyday life. She recalls him always believing that even the simplest moments can become opportunities for meditation and reflection.

“Every time he walks through a doorway, he lets the doorway be his reminder to take a breath and like check in. [I’ve] Definitely seen him wash the dishes mindfully, wash his hands mindfully. When we’re walking the dogs, you know, it’s like just little comments like, ‘Oh, have you ever noticed that there’s a hill in our neighborhood that’s filled with daffodils? And so, like, we walk by it and noticing, like, there were not daffodils in that bunch yesterday, and now some of the buds are blooming,” she explains.

“He sees all of those things. He notices all of those things every single day. He’s just so present. Like, wherever he is, he’s 100% there.”

Mike Thompson, head coach of Christopher Newport University’s lacrosse team, also reflected on Peavey’s impact, saying that his ability to truly listen and connect with others has left a lasting impression on the many athletes and students he has mentored.

“When you talk to Alex, you get this sense that he’s genuinely listening and he’s not just formulating his response while you’re talking,” Thompson says.

“You know, when you think about legacy, he’s a guy that has changed a lot of lives. There’s young kids that are learning this stuff at a really young age during a time in our lives when anxiety and depression and lack of connection is at an all-time high.”

Peavey, who always prioritizes time to meditate and be present, concludes, “My job is to live another day for my family, every chance that I can get. So whether it’s making a bagel or driving them to school, I don’t take any of that for granted.

“And it’s not a job as in I’m clocking in, clocking out. It’s a job as in it’s my purpose on a daily basis, because I don’t know when the day comes that I don’t get to do that anymore.”

Helpful Meditative Practices

Pioneer of mindfulness, Dr. Deepak Chopra, previously sat down with SurvivorNet to share some insight on how he guides mindfulness beginners, saying his personal journey started by learning about himself, and asking himself a series of questions.

“Are you changing the experience with the body, changing the experience of the mind, changing experience with emotions?” Dr. Chopra asked.

“Are you aware all this change is happening? Have you ever been intimate with your own self? Do you even know who you are other than your name and your story? So it’s time to ask yourself, who am I?”

Feel the Fear, and Let it Go — Meditation for Cancer Survivors

Chopra started his journey of mindfulness at the age of six, when his grandfather passed away suddenly. That experience made him want to experience life and understand the meaning of existence, which prompted him to attend medical school.

“If we can combine our actions in the world with reflective self inquiry, love and compassion, and a state of secure, stable, ornamental, peaceful being without the addictions that humans have, then we can begin our journey of healing,” Dr. Chopra explained.

What Are the Current Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) both recommend that men at average risk between the ages of 55 and 69 years talk with their doctor about the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men at age 50 who are at average risk should begin screening. Men who are at high risk of prostate cancer should begin screening at age 45. Men with a close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer should consider annual screening at 40.

For men 70 years and older, the USPSTF and the CDC say potential benefits do not outweigh the expected harms and recommend that men 70 and older should not be routinely screened for prostate cancer.

If You’re Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer, What to Expect for Treatment?

After testing and establishing your risk, your doctor will discuss possible treatment options. These may range from active surveillance to more aggressive options, including surgery and radiation therapy.

Surgery is an option for men with any risk group of prostate cancer that hasn’t spread outside of the prostate gland. The type of surgery most often used is called a radical prostatectomy.

During the procedure, the surgeon removes the entire prostate, along with some tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles that release fluid into the semen. Your doctor can perform this through a traditional open procedure with one large or several small incisions, called laparoscopic surgery.

Surgery side effects may include erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Fortunately, the side effects are usually temporary, and there are ways to help you manage them.

Radiation therapy is often done when prostate cancer is caught early and confined to the prostate gland.

WATCH: When Prostate Cancer Spreads: The Scans Doctors Use To Assess Advanced Disease

Questions for Your Doctor

If you have experienced symptoms associated with prostate cancer or have a screening coming up, here are some questions you may ask your doctor:

• If I had elevated PSA levels, what could be causing that besides cancer?
• How long will it take to learn if my PSA levels warrant further testing?
• What are the treatment options that are best suited for me based on my risk level?
• What financial resources exist to help me with the costs associated with treatment?
• How long will my potential treatment prevent me from working or continuing normal activities?

If you have questions you want answered, SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool “My Health Questions” is designed specifically for patients and caregivers.

This powerful resource is embedded across the SurvivorNet website and delivers structured responses grounded in clinical guidelines and medically reviewed research to help people better understand their treatment options and feel more confident navigating care.

My Health Questions can also help patients come up with useful questions ahead of their next appointment.

(Content independently created by SurvivorNet with support from Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp.)

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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