Scott Hamilton is counting his blessings.
After being diagnosed with his third brain tumor last summer, the Olympic figure skater learned at a February check-up that the growth — a benign pituitary tumor — has shrunk in size without treatment. Hamilton will open up about his health crises — and enduring determination.
“The nature of them is to grow, and without treatment, they have no reason to shrink,” Hamilton, 58, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “So I was the recipient of a spectacular miracle. I’m keeping an eye on it, and there’s no treatment needed at this time.”
The gold medalist previously beat testicular cancer in 1997 and two similar benign tumors in 2004 and 2010 before he was diagnosed with his latest in August 2016.
After the latest health discovery, Hamilton made some changes in his life — and found solace in his Christian faith.
“I kind of heard a little voice when I first got the news, to get strong, so I decided to do that,” he says. “And it was about that same time that I realized things like cancer loves to feed on sugar, and I go, ‘I don’t really want to do anything to give it anything it wants.’
So I just decided to give up sugar. That was the end of August, and I went back at the end of November, and they scanned it again, and it hadn’t grown at all. So I stayed with the program, eliminated all the unhealthy stuff — have been getting strong — and have been pouring myself into the word, and I really tried to draw as close to the Lord as possible. I went back Feb. 10, I checked in, got my MRI done, and it actually shrunk.”
Hamilton — who with wife Tracie, 46, has four children: Jean Paul, 15, Aidan, 13, Evelyne, 13, and Maxx, 8 — says that the positive prognosis. . . .has only inspired him to make even more of a difference with his Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, which raises money and awareness to fight cancer.
“When something like this happens, it’s unbelievable. It would be like somebody…with any form of cancer or illness, it all of a sudden goes away? What? Without treatment? That’s crazy,” says Hamilton, who also drinks a lot of water, added supplements and essential oils to his diet. “It was quite miraculous what happened. I never anticipated that at all.”
As for why the tumor has decreased in size, doctors said there is no medical explanation.
“The doctors basically said, ‘Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it,’ ” Hamilton says. “And it was very funny, the surgeon that I would use if I were to take it out, I go, ‘Can you explain this?’ He just smiled and looked at me and goes, ‘God.’ That’s it. Whoa. I was just a blubbering mess, like, ‘I’m not worthy of this.’ There’s so many other people out there who could benefit from this miracle.”
Of course, one of the things Hamilton enjoys most is skating, and he actually credits his tumors with allowing him to rediscover his love of the sport.
“This brain tumor has given me a lot more than it has taken away,” he insists. “This is a brain tumor I was born with. Without it I wouldn’t have been in and out of hospitals for four years. Without this my parents wouldn’t have been so exhausted that they needed to give me a morning off, and the morning off they chose was a skating rink. There are no accidents.”
And Hamilton said it “would be great” if he can skate through his treatments.
Like when he skates better than he ever has in the 1994 Gold Championships to the song “Walk This Way.”
“When I learned of this diagnosis, two things came to my mind. I have to draw closer to God and I have to get physically strong,” Hamilton notes. “And I have been doing both.”
Outside of his family, Hamilton has been touching the hearts of thousands through motivational speaking engagements and his Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, which raises funds for cancer research and provides support and resources to cancer patients.
“The Cares Foundation started out here in Cleveland as a Cares Initiative. What I wanted to do was thank the Cleveland clinic for giving me my life back,” Hamilton explains. “But I knew that there were gaping holes in the cancer community. I went online to find out what I needed to know about testicular cancer and all I found were medical journal papers with 12-syllable words, five to a sentence … So we created ChemoCare.com, which is everything you need to know about chemo therapy in 8th grade English and Spanish. Every drug is listed. Every side effect is listed. It’s an amazing accomplishment. Also Its sister side is RadCare.org, which is everything about radiation therapy.”
Lucy and Sharon are so honored to have had the opportunity to interview one of the most decorated and well loved athletes of all times. During this interview, Scott Hamilton’s warm and passionate personality shines through. He spoke about frustrations he experienced before and during his treatment for testicular cancer in 2007 as Scott searched for helpful information about cancer treatment.
These frustrations combined with his champion’s heart birthed projects that benefit those who are walking the same path after him. Scott is now a leader in providing information to cancer patients which also can be easily understood and practical. He also founded 4th Angel, http://4thangel.org/ an organization aimed at providing personal mentorship to those facing a fresh diagnosis of cancer.
Scott Hamilton inspires as he talks about his optimistic outlook on life, including the awakening that came with his cancer diagnosis and how nothing positive will come of negativity!!! He sits down with TODAY’s Matt Lauer for a candid conversation about his health and his new streaming docuseries, “Scott Hamilton Today.”
