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Eric Janeau defies the odds: Survives 1% chance with rare cancer victory

By Kevyn Stewart
Published  October 10, 2024 7:33pm EDT
Douglas County
FOX 5 Atlanta

Cancer survivor: 'God kept me here for a purpose'

A former college football player has survived a cancer that has a survival rate of just one percent. His journey is being called a miracle by his doctors.

The Brief

    • Eric Janeau, a motivational speaker and former college football player, overcame a rare bile duct cancer with a 1% survival rate.
    • Janeau was accidentally diagnosed with stage IV bile duct cancer, which had spread to his liver, while dealing with esophageal achalasia symptoms.
    • He underwent a combination of immunotherapy and intense chemotherapy, including cisplatin, which led to his condition improving enough for surgery.
    • Oncologist Dr. Carmen Klass noted that such a response to treatment is unusual, as these cancers are often too advanced for surgery by the time they are discovered.
    • Post-treatment, Janeau is now two years cancer-free, attributes his recovery to faith, a positive mindset, and discipline, and states that his battle with cancer has led to lifestyle changes that resolved other health issues, like diabetes and high blood pressure.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. - Douglas County motivational speaker Eric Janeau's test has become his testimony. The former college football player has beaten a rare bile duct cancer. Doctors say the survival rate is 1%.  

"I had four to six months to live, that's stretching it," says Janeau. "God kept me here for a purpose." 

The 50-year-old New Orleans native discovered his cancer by accident. He had been struggling with esophageal achalasia. It's an illness that causes swallowing problems, regurgitation issues and chest pain. 

"I used to hit my side," recalled an animated Janeau. "I'm thinking it was a spasm." 

However, a doctor decided to take another step when the former offensive lineman mentioned the pain again. It led to an order for an MRI, which lead to a doctor's stage IV bile duct cancer diagnosis. It had diagnosis metastasized to his liver. 

" What's after Stage IV ?" asked Janeau." She (the doctor) looked at the sky, she said that's it."  

He said that's when it all clicked for him. 

"Nah, we're going to fight," exclaimed Janeau. 

With a combination of immunotherapy and intense chemotherapy, which included the use of cisplatin. 

"One of the strongest chemo meds out there. She (the doctor) said you drank cisplatin like rainwater," laughed Janeau." I said 'doc, you should see how I drink the Hennessey." 

Wellstar Health System oncologist Dr. Carmen Klass says the goal was to shrink the tumor.  

"But the treatment is still a wide cry from being perfect," said Dr. Klass. " Not everybody responds, but when patients respond, they can have a long period of stabilization of disease or enough shrinkage that we can tackle it surgically." 

The treatment worked for Janeau and allowed for successful surgery. Dr. Klass calls all of this very unusual. 

"Unfortunately, by the time these cancers are found, they are already too big to be surgically removed," said Dr. Klass. "We hope everyone is a miracle like Eric, and we pray he continues to be a miracle." 

The jovial man believes faith, mindset, and discipline is how he got to this point today—two years cancer-free. 

"Eric just had a spirit from the get-go" recalled Dr. Klass. 

"God's hands were on me," said Janeau 

In fact, he says cancer saved his life. He's changed his lifestyle. Diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease are all healed after weight loss and more. 

"I have a new lease on life," said Janeau." My hunger to live is stronger than my will to die." 

The Source

  • FOX 5 Atlanta original reporting