Philly Flyer's Oskar Lindblom Says He Learned A Lot About Himself While Battling Cancer — NHL Player Celebrates Finishing Chemotherapy
Published Jul 17, 2020
Shelby Black
Following his battle with cancer, Philadelphia Flyer's player Oskar Lindblom is appreciating his health to the fullest, and says his journey has made him learn more about himself.
Lindblom, 23, was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma (a rare type of bone cancer) in December 2019, and has been undergoing rounds of chemotherapy and radiation for treatment. His diagnosis forced him to put his ice hockey career on hold temporarily, but in early July he celebrated finishing radiation treatment by ringing the bell at Abramson Cancer Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
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In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Lindblom admits that his cancer journey has been difficult, but the experience also made him put his life into perspective. Now, the days of complaining about waking up early, working out, and going to work feel like a thing of the past.
"It's been tough, but you learn a lot about yourself," says Linblom. "You can complain that you're tired one day, you don't want to go to work, you don't want to work out… I probably shouldn't complain when I'm healthy and I have my dream job of playing hockey and can just be thankful for life."
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In numerous conversations with SurvivorNet, cancer survivors have shared how battling cancer has made them reevaluate their life — whether it's in their work, relationships, or future plans.
When CC Webster was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at just 29-years-old, she realized that her old life didn't fit with what she wanted fulfill in the future. Once she started working again, she recognized that she needed a change, and decided to quit her former job and focus her energy in writing a book sharing her story.
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"The whole process of being sick, especially at a young age, gives you more perspective on the life that you want," Webster tells SurvivorNet. "You don't have to go back to that same job, and you don't have to sit at the same desk and be who you were before you got really sick and your life changed…I was sitting at my desk about two months into being back at work, and we got another pitch proposal in, but the worst thing was that I was staring at that proposal, and I thought, this wasn't what the last six months was for. This wasn't why I sat through 14 drips. I resigned the next day with no plan, only to share my story."
Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor CC Webster says being diagnosed with cancer gave her new perspective on what she wanted in life
In many cases, survivors have told us that being diagnosed with cancer led them to make serious positive changes in their lives, such as eating right or exercising more. For breast cancer survivor Dana Donofree, she tells SurvivorNet that she believes battling cancer ultimately made her a better person since it taught her to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. Dana says the experience made her a better friend, a better wife, and a good person overall.
Related: 'Be Grateful For The Good Things' — Ovarian Cancer Survivor Donna Cleland's Story
"I kind of think to myself that if I didn't have cancer, I probably would have had a heart attack," Donofree says. "I know that sounds, maybe, really morbid and crazy, but I was going so hard and so fast that I just wanted it all, and that's not healthy. I feel like cancer slowed me down, and it really allowed me to live in the moment. It allowed me to focus on my life and my relationships and things that brought me joy…So the opportunity to be a good person is something that really makes me happy and makes me feel honored that I got the chance to course correct."
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