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Ethan Zohn's Cancer Returns: 'I Have Never Been So Scared'

After three months of chemotherapy to treat a rare form of Hodgkin's disease, 'Survivor: Africa' winner Ethan Zohn was feeling pretty good. He was active, preparing for a marathon and "feeling great." But then came a call from his doctor on Aug 26, throwing cold water on his success.

"My cancer is back," he tells PEOPLE, in discussing post-chemo tests that showed re-growth of tumors in his chest. "I have never been so scared in my life, for my life."

The original mango-sized mass has actually shrunk in size, but now he says there are two small nodules in a different location. "It's quite rare that not only is there re-growth, but that there's re-growth so quickly. I was obviously resistant to the first form of chemotherapy."

He was first diagnosed in April and the treatment he endured robbed him of his strength and of course his trademark shaggy locks.

Now, doctors have prescribed him a stem cell transplant aimed at "hitting the reset button" on his body.

The treatment will take place in three stages:

1. He's already spent three days receiving a combo of chemo called ICE.
2. In a couple weeks, he'll return for a four-day ICE session. At that time, doctors will be harvesting and freezing healthy stem cells from his body.
3. "In the final and most difficult stage, I will be admitted to the hospital for 30 days (yes a whole f'ing month), to get my final chemotherapy session to start my stem cell transplant.

Telling his parents about his dire condition was of course not easy for the upbeat Zohn.

"My mom was obviously upset," Zohn says. "My brothers -- everyone's upset. They can't believe it's what's happening. But on the flip side, everyone's positive and supportive."

But he adds, "You have to think positive. And you have to find the strength, which I will. And you have to rely on other people, which I will."


(Pictured, Zohn, left, poses with 'Pitchman' star Anthony Sullivan in August.)