Survivor Scott Hamilton's Mission
- Hamilton, 62, tells the SurvivorNet family that he’s making the most of every moment by enjoying the people and moments that make life great.
- The former Olympic figure skater has launched a new site as a call to “presentness”, to living in and savoring every second we get.
- Hamilton, who survived testicular cancer and three benign brain tumors, has spent nearly two decades raising cancer awareness, creating a chemotherapy informational site and a book for children whose parents have been diagnosed.
Related: 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Was Diagnosed With Testicular Cancer
Read MoreHamilton had previously talked with SurvivorNet about his battle against testicular cancer and later a series of benign brain tumors. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1997 and said that the uncertainty that came with the disease was the worst part.
"With chemo, I didn't know how sick I was going to be. I asked my doctor and he said, 'Moderate to severe.' And I go, 'What does moderate to severe mean?' He took a second and said, 'Moderate to severe,’" Hamilton said, laughing. "So, you're flying blind. It's that step in the dark that's really frightening. So in my survivorship, I just decided to solve [those] problems."
Helping Others
In addition to the organizations he’s involved in above, earlier this year, Hamilton published Fritzy Finds a Hat, a book that aims to help young children understand what it means when a parent has cancer.
View this post on Instagram
The book was inspired by Scott’s mother Dorothy, who passed after battling breast cancer when Scott was a teen. Hamilton told SurvivorNet he was inspired by how his mother didn’t appear scared of the disease – and how that made them feel more at ease themselves.
"The whole idea behind Fritzy Finds a Hat is mom has got a problem and Fritzy's going to solve it. [My mother] informed us that she was going to need some help and some support around the house. And so, that empowered us to be a part of her journey."
Renewed Appreciation
Scott’s experiences with cancer have led him to a deeper appreciation of life and a willingness to make the most of every day.
"Every day that I'm going through this, I'm going to find a way to laugh, I'm going to find a way to enjoy myself," Hamilton says. "I'm going to find a way to love on my family and my friends. It's a journey."
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.