DEFY ANY OBSTACLE

One Olympian doesn't need gold medals to feel like a champion…

Take it from Olympic Swimmer Eric Shanteau: You're in control of your life and things you want to accomplish.

Seven weeks before the start of the Olympics, 24-year-old Shanteau got some staggering news from his doctor. He had testicular cancer and needed surgery. Shanteau could have—some say should have—let go of his Olympic dreams and undergone treatment, but for the athlete who missed out on Athens four years ago by a hair, it was Beijing or bust.

Shanteau's doctor agreed to postpone treatment until after the Olympics, since testicular cancer has more than a 90 percent cure rate when spotted early. It's one of few diagnoses that have minimal risk associated with delaying action, according to a blog by Abraham Morgentaler, the director of Men's Health Boston, a urology clinic, and an associate professor at Harvard University.

Shanteau's public battle—often compared to Lance Armstrong, the cyclist who originally transformed testicular cancer into a source of motivation and strength—offers more than a lesson in following dreams and battling disease. He finally agreed to see a doctor when his girlfriend refused to back off or take no for an answer.

Studies show a similar pattern of men being more likely than women to avoid healthcare. And even when guys finally get in the exam room, they rarely ask the right questions or follow doctor's orders after they leave.

Shanteau, who made it to the 200-meter breaststroke semifinal at the Water Cube Tuesday, may never win as many medals as Michael Phelps, but he's just as much an inspiration to viewers across the nation.

Copy his courage to dispel fear of the unknown and learn how to make the most of your next doctor's visit. You'll clear your head of worry and cancer-proof your body.