The champion wrestler and MMA fighter sees the cancer, found only weeks ago, as a new opponent.
Jared Platt is a fighter.
He has fought on the mat as a champion wrestler for Blair Academy and Penn State, and inside the ring as an MMA fighter.
And the 27-year-old has long fought Type 1 diabetes, inspiring him to create a blog detailing his experiences managing the disease while wrestling as a way to help others.
He sees his recent stage 4 cancer diagnosis as another opponent, a "tough test" not unlike the others he has faced.
"You never know how small or large the test will be ... but it will be there," he wrote recently on his Facebook page. "Be positive and know that the little tough tests lead you to be strong enough for the bigger ones. Grow stronger, grow tougher, grow enlightened."
It's a fight he is not facing alone.
Hey everyone, thanks so much for all of the love and compassion for me my new opponent, Cancer. You never think it'll be you! <3 Much Love!
-- Jared Platt (@jaredplattmma) September 18, 2015
The cancer was discovered after Platt, of Oak Ridge, N.J., had back surgery done earlier this month, according to friend and colleague Nick Milonas. In a Facebook post dated Tuesday, Platt said doctors found an "enormous" malignant tumor near his tailbone.
MMA fighter and wrestling coach Jared Platt says he sees cancer as another "tough test" in life. (Twitter screenshot)"It's very gut-wrenching. He's like family," said Milonas, who works with Platt at the Buxton School of Wrestling in Sparta Township, N.J. The school is named for owner and nationally known wrestling coach Jeff Buxton, who coached Platt at Blair Academy in Blairstown Township, where he won the National Prep Champion title in 2006 and 2007.
The response to the news has been swift.
A GoFundMe online fundraiser has gained more than $70,000 for his medical expenses in just over a week.
The group "Friends Supporting Jared Platt" was formed on Facebook and the hashtag #PlattsFight was started on Twitter. Pin Cancer, a wrestling-based cancer charity, made a T-shirt with Platt's signature red beard.
Help Jared Platt in his battle against Cancer & grab your #PLATTSFIGHT Tee! http://t.co/aEL2nJOLcP pic.twitter.com/9ULkqKctoK
-- PinCancer (@PinCancer) September 16, 2015
The Buxton School of Wrestling is organizing a "Fear the Beard" clinic Oct. 24, the proceeds of which will go to Platt and his family, Milonas said.
The five-hour clinic will include instruction from a dozen former NCAA wrestling champions, six All-Americans and Buxton himself, Milonas said. There is a 200-person limit and registration will open next week on the school's website, www.buxtonschoolofwrestling.com.
According to the GoFundMe page, Platt -- the father of two girls -- is being treated by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, but the exact form of cancer has yet to be determined.
Updates on the site describe how Platt tries to keep the mood light, the strength of his wife Candace -- Milonas called her the "heart and soul of that team" -- and how support is coming from across the nation.
"Wrestling is such a tight-knight community. It's like a big family. ... He's drawing from it." Milonas said.
"He's a fighter."
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
