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Lofton's message: You can beat it
Cancer survivor won his battle mostly alone
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Chris Lofton seemed oddly out of place Friday evening.
There was no basketball court within dribbling distance, no game or practice awaiting his full attention.
There also was the matter of an ironic scheduling coincidence. Not only was the downtown Marriott hosting Tennessee’s basketball banquet; it also was hosting a hot rod convention.
And for anyone that knows Lofton, he’s about as far away from a hot rod as a full-court shot. A classic, maybe. But not a hot rod.
Yet media were on hand, the same group that surrounded the shy shooting guard from Maysville, Ky., throughout his UT career.
That, at least, seemed somewhat familiar surroundings for a star athlete. But Lofton wasn’t answering questions as a basketball player. He was answering questions as a cancer survivor.
“I’d like to be known as a great basketball player, too, but a cancer survivor will mean a lot more to a lot more people,” Lofton said a day after publicly revealing his successful battle against testicular cancer.
Lofton said he spoke up because the story was leaking out, but there was another reason not to hide the truth: inspiration.
“Just to stay strong,” Lofton said, speaking directly to other cancer victims. “It’s not the end of the world. You can beat it.
“It’s going to take time. It’s going to be hard. I took it one day at a time. I treated it like an NCAA tournament game, one game at a time.”
Only those “games” were radiation treatments. Those games meant constant nausea for two months, all the while losing the conditioning that allowed him to be one of the nation’s best college basketball players.
“I’m hurting,” Lofton would text UT trainer Chad Newman, one of the few people aware of Lofton’s condition.
Only there wasn’t much Newman or anyone could do for the pain.
“You’ve got to fight through it,” Lofton said.
So he did, mostly alone. It wasn’t that Lofton didn’t want to tell his teammates. It’s that he couldn’t. That shy thing again.
“I wanted to tell all my teammates,” Lofton said. “I just couldn’t get it out to them. I didn’t know how to start the conversation.”
And there was the early season slump, when fans questioned his play, some more kind than others.
“It was probably the hardest part of it, not being able to play the way I wanted to this year, my senior year, my last year,” Lofton said. “That was one of the most difficult times for me.”
UT coach Bruce Pearl answered the questions as best he could last season — and tolerated more criticism than he could hardly bare.
“Be mindful of the fact that these guys are young,” Pearl said. “Sometimes we think these guys have an ‘S’ on their chest and they don’t.”
The hero that saved the day in this tale was more Clark Kent than Superman.
Had Lofton not been randomly selected by the NCAA for a drug test during the NCAA tournament last March, his story might not have a happy ending. As it turned out, the false positive came as a result of a chemical marker found in cancer patients.
Fortunately, Lofton wasn’t suspended for the failed test, saving him any speculation and embarrassment that would have surely followed. UT took advantage of a appeal process that proved a public relations saving grace.
Before Lofton faced an NCAA suspension, UT had the right to have another sample tested with one of their representatives in attendance.
Now UT officials are thinking of ways to honor Lofton, not defend him. He’s reached all the criteria to have his jersey number retired. That should happen in five years to his No. 5, as per UT’s policy on such issues.
But there could be more.
“We’ve got some ideas floating around,” UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said.
All will pale to Lofton just being able to shoot some hoops and spend time with his family, both of which he views far differently than before.
“It used to be a bad game was the end of the world for me,” Lofton said. “When I went through my cancer, I realized that basketball is fun, but it’s not that big of a deal.
“There are people out there suffering way more than a basketball loss. It just put all things in perspective for me.”
And, Pearl claimed, for everyone else.
“Chris did not need an incident like this to make every day count,” Pearl said. “The rest of us may have needed this lesson.
“Chris Lofton didn’t.”
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by NYVol on May 3, 2008 at 12:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lofton is courageous. CBP is pragmatic. The Vol Nation should be thankful for both.
Posted by LargeOrange on May 3, 2008 at 12:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Chris, your priorities are right on. I found out that I had bladder cancer in 1993, 2 months after my first child was born and will never forget how scared I was and felt like Chris described. I had chemotherapy instead of radiation, but I understand how Chris felt going through it one day at a time. I can appreciate his determination and courage to fight through it and it gives strength to the rest of us. I get tested once a year and thank God have not had a recurrence, I pray the same for Chris. That new-born is now going to be 15 next month and as a freshman is a varsity tight-end in football and a long-stick middy on his High School Lacrosse team here in Atlanta and I couldn't be prouder or more thankful. Godspeed Chris, I know your story will help many others, that are stricken with this dreadful disease, to fight on.
Posted by DandyVol on May 3, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Chris already knows this, but the rest of you may not. Chris was extremely lucky that he was chosen for the radom drug test and also was lucky that the marker showed up. Testicular cancer is an extremely fast growing cancer that if caught in the early stages, is highly curable. However, the cure is a bitch, whether you go through chemo or radiation, and the recovery is very slow. I know Chris went through a period of life evaluation as I did when I went through the same cancer. I wish nothing but the best for Chris and pray that the side effects of treatment are few and diminishing.
Never quit, go after your dreams.
Posted by tigervol9802 on May 3, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just hope as that we get the 4 and 5 star players in here that we are still getting guys with half the character #5 has.
Posted by dallasdog1 on May 3, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Best to you DandyVol!
Posted by THE_VOL on May 3, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dave Hooker - why didn't you just reprint Chris Low's story????? You have offered NOTHING new to this story but I guess we shouldn't expect such of anyone from KNS!
Posted by invisiblekid on May 3, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
“There are people out there suffering way more than a basketball loss. It just put all things in perspective for me.”
And, Pearl claimed, for everyone else.
“Chris did not need an incident like this to make every day count,” Pearl said. “The rest of us may have needed this lesson.
“Chris Lofton didn’t.”
There isn't anything of substance that I could possibly add to those comments. Hopefully, some of the fans out there learn that lesson as well. I have always respected Lofton and, even through his early struggles this season, never lost sight of the fact that the program wouldn't be where it is today without him. After learning of his cancer and the strength it took for Lofton to persevere, reverence seems to be a more appropriate term.
Posted by invisiblekid on May 3, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
THE_VOL, no offense, but I don't care how many times this story gets rehashed. The story is Chris Lofton, not the lack of acumen in reporting by Mike Griffith or Dave Hooker.
Posted by BigOrangeJeff on May 3, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NOT_THE_VOL:
Have you ever - EVER - posted anything that wasn't a slam on someone?
What a miserable existence yours must be...
Posted by easttennesseedad on May 3, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Chris for your courage. I am proud that my 6yr old son has a true hero that he can cheer for. GOD Bless You.
Posted by RJ_Vol on May 3, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chris, thanks for giving us a lesson in toughness, graciousness, and determination. You embody the meaning of being a "Volunteer." The Lord has kept you around to do even more excellent things. You have reminded us that life is a gift. In a world where selfish acts and "me" attitudes are the highlights, thanks for providing an example of unselfishness for people to follow.
Posted by hsdoss on May 3, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As i type this tears come to my eyes down my cheeks to be wiped away with the same. Several times i, along with other vol fans started to question Chrises play, especially on the offence. Now i feel so rotten inside for the feelings i had when he would miss an open jumper because we had become so use to him knocking them down with regularity. Hang in there big guy as you have already done and the whole VOLUNTEER NATION is behind you all the way. Much more i would like to say but to you Chris Lofton may God be with you in your efforts to over come.
Posted by vollady on May 3, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chris,
Your Vol family cares about you not only for the present time but also, always in your future. We are hurt for what you had to endure, both in pain and in criticsm from some of the Vol fans. Hopefully, this will serve a lesson to many of them. Most fans, however, appreciate all you did for the Basketball team for 4 years. You will probably be remembered for your bravery as much as your tremendous abilities and accomplishments in basketball but I am sure that everyone wants you to have the brightest future possible whether it is basketball or something else. You are the type of young man that any Mother would be proud to claim. God Bless You Chris in whatever life holds for you.
Posted by AllLadyVol on May 3, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As far as the random drug test, I believe the Lord was watching out for number 5.
Mike Hamilton, if you don't retire number 5 SOON, Tennessee fans (and your precious donors and season ticket holders) will have an absolutely hissy fit.
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