Former UFC fighter Mike Swick is in the midst of what he’s calling the toughest battle of his life – and it comes outside the cage.
Swick, 42, revealed in a lengthy Instagram post Wednesday that he was recently diagnosed with cancer and called it “the toughest and most aggressive battle I have ever had.” Swick, a Season 1 cast member on “The Ultimate Fighter,” has undergone chemotherapy, water-fasting and organic diet treatments over the past five weeks, he said.
While he did not specify which kind of cancer he’s dealing with, Swick said he had it for seven months without knowing. His lymph nodes were swollen, but he tacked the issue up to a COVID-19 vaccine side effect. As it turns out, it was something much more serious.
“Now recovering at home and actually feeling amazing mentally!” Swick wrote. “Vitals all still good but still full of Chemo and a little weak and quite skinny. The lowest I got after the fasts and first week was 151lbs. … I will get a scan and update in just over a week but I decided not to hide this. I want everyone to watch as I beat this BS and recover myself back to 100% with a full recovery. So stay tuned…”
From 2005 to 2015, Swick competed 15 times under the UFC banner. He went 10-5 in that stretch with wins over Joe Riggs, Marcus Davis, Ben Saunders, and Josh Burkman among others. Post-fighting-career, Swick founded AKA Thailand and hosts a podcast “Real Quick with Mike Swick“.
Swick is the third original member of “The Ultimate Fighter” to publicly reveal serious health concerns in recent months. Diego Sanchez and Chris Leben were both hospitalized due to post-COVID-19 issues, with the latter still working toward being discharged.
Swick’s full post can be read below:
“Sometimes life throws you lemons, and then sometimes the whole lemon tree falls on your head!
“Anyway, for those wondering where I have been the last 5 weeks, I been battling Cancer in the toughest and most aggressive battle I have ever had. Started with a 48 hour water fast, then the first Chemo session with an additional 24 hour water fast, then a day of solid plant based organic food, followed by another chemo and fast, then plant based again, keeping this routine until the week was over. From then I kept Chemo every other day for the next 3 weeks while eating only plant based organic cancer killing foods daily.
“After 7 days all 15+ swollen lymph nodes in my neck were completely gone. Never had a single fever throughout, and vitals were always normal. Round 1 went to me for sure!
“Then I continued same chemo and plant based routine, without anymore fasting, until I checked out a couple days ago.
“Now recovering at home and actually feeling amazing mentally! Vitals all still good but still full of Chemo and a little weak and quite skinny. The lowest I got after the fasts and first week was 151lbs.
“I will get a scan and update in just over a week but I decided not to hide this. I want everyone to watch as I beat this BS and recover myself back to 100% with a full recovery. So stay tuned…
“P.S. I apparently had this for over 7 months without knowing. Even after passing an initial biopsy on my lymph node. Since all vitals were good and I passed all regular tests and blood work, we assumed it was the Johnson and Johnson Vaccine side effects, since the nodes swole up literally the day after I got it. So if you scroll back 7 months on my IG, you can see how much fun I was having with cancer and not even knowing it. Free-diving, skydiving, training… kinda crazy. Be safe everyone and never listen to the first diagnosis.
“P.S.S. Lastly and MOST important is all the appreciation in the world to my wonderful girlfriend Julia, who has supported me more than I ever thought a human could! We are about to have an amazing Chapter 2 my love!
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