My survival story -- what I learned from having cancer | Martin Inderbitzin | TEDxZurich
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Published 2014-11-20
He had to go through surgery and endure nine months of radiochemotherapy. While coping with his new situation and challenging his many fears he realized how important his own state of mind was. In the middle of his treatment, when he was barely able to walk, he decided to sign up for a triathlon, despite never having seriously practiced endurance sports before. Today, he says this was one of the most important decisions of his life.
With this new goal in mind he quickly realized the positive effect it had on his mental and physiological state. He tried to figure out how to‚train‘, while still being under treatment. After he had left the hospital his energy slowly returned and his training became more serious. Three months after the end of his treatment, Martin crossed the finish line of his first triathlon. Today, Martin is an enthusiastic Amateur-Triathlete, competing regularly in races around the globe.
During his time as a patient Martin was inspired by stories from other patients who had lived through the same hassle. While crossing the finish line of his first race he realized that he himself had become an inspiration for other patients. This life changing moment gave Martin the idea to start his initiative: to collect and document cancer survival stories in the form of short videos and make them available to other patients and their families on an online platform.
Martin Inderbitzin studied biology at the ETH Zurich and did his PhD in Neuroscience at UPF Barcelona with a special focus on artificial emotions and human computer interaction. After his studies in Spain he moved back to his home town Zurich and started to work as an interaction designer. In 2012 his dreams of a successful career were destroyed by a cancer diagnosis. While in treatment he decided to become a triathlete despite never having practiced this sport before. Since he left the hospital in 2013 he has completed multiple races and is enjoying his health again.
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All Comments (21)
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Hello everybody! It's me again. :) so you guessed right...I am still here! And I feel so humble and grateful to read all your comments and feedbacks. Isn't it amazing that we can share our stories and empower each other this way? My last 8 years were not straight forward and I have many ups and downs. Many treatments and surgeries, but I am still here. What I learned is that life is short. Don't wait. Go out and follow your heart. Dare to Live! before it's too late. What did you learn? I am curious to hear. With nothing but love and my best wishes, Martin
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Hello everybody. It is one year later and YES, I am still alive! :) With nothing but love and wishing you all the best, martin
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Just to let everybody know: I past this year my 5 year mark and am still alive! Sending a lot of positive energy to everybody out there fighting right now. With nothing but love, Martin
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What I learned from having cancer, is that the battle is not only against cancer, the battle is also against your mind.
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HEY whoever is fighting with cancer i want you to know i have beaten cancer twice as i had relapse after my first treatment.. NOW it's been almost 3 years since i had completed my complete treatment. so don't lose hope..This cancer would just make you a more stronger person :)) sending free hugs for all the people who's currently treating cancer and to all the survivors <3
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Praying for all the people that have cancer
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I still have cancer bone cancer idgaf I'm going to beat it
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Just been diagnosed yesterday but I'm positive I'll be just fine.
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I’m recovering from a stem cell transplant for my 5th relapse of a rare /aggressive/terminal brain cancer and I was given 2 years to live. This September 27th will be 18 years! I’d love to share my story with you and others by making a video.
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Maybe this comment will help someone some day. My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma in March 2012. It's now almost October 2016 and he is still here. He didn't want to hear the life expectancy, but it was a year at most. AND HE IS STILL HERE. Thanks to immunotherapy he's still living ,so please never give up hope. best wishes to all going through cancer.
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This was beautiful. I was given my diagnoses in November. Stage 4 stomach cancer. I refuse to let this disease beat me. I know that I will not die but shall live to tell everyone that Jesus saves. Maybe you may not believe in him but to believe that you will live means you believe in something. I JUST believe in my LORD 🙏 for this battle belongs to him. Loved the inspiring story.
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Great story! I was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer stage 4 last year. I tried to fight with cancer by kept working even during chemo time. I tried to let my work speaking without telling others about my diagnosis except my supervisor, but the company still lay me off. The stress of lost job let me feel my symptoms back. I am trying to be strong and jump back the job market. I enjoyed working and concentration of working let me feel alive. By the way, I am 62 years old and I am a software engineer. I used to have Ph.D. degree of plant genetics. Your story let me know strength can get benefit in the battle of fighting illness as well. Thank you!
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We just lost to cancer, a 19-year-old young lady. She was the oldest sibling and would help her mom with the rest of the children. She died praying without ever stopping. She was angelic in so many ways. I remember her when she was still a baby. I'm still praying for her eternal rest and for her family. The community is still overwhelmed because she was so young and kind. But there is a sense of conformity with the fact of her death because she was suffering a whole lot, and all the money in the world wouldn't suffice to get better treatments than the ones she got. She was such an angel! I'm so happy that I met her!
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I really needed this I beat cancer once it’s back again I’ll beat it again
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I'm 32 with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and only given monthes. I feel alone but not...I see the love around me. I will be writing a book to help others be strong when it seems impossible. Through a cancer, toxic relationships and post love ones, let's go.
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I just finished all conventional treatment a month ago , i never stop working during my treatment. I went to my treatment with my bycycle. I never treated myself as a cancer patiënt.
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Omg, I'm crying. My mom was diagnosed a few weeks ago, she's everything I have and your way of seeing this is strongly helping me. Thank you so much, I'll fight this fear. I wish everybody could watch this video. Thank you, God bless y'all.
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I have always believed that we must turn FEAR into STRATEGY. They both require energy. It is a mindset worth exploring.
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I agree. I believe more people die from the "fear" of tne cancer versus the cancer itself. Cancer often follows a period of great stress. The fear itself causes even more. When you let your head follow that fear, your body will follow, so don't let your head go there in the first place.
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Martin, You sound like an Olympic Champion Gold Medal Winner! Nothing can stop you from being #1!!!!!!111
