Who doesnt love a good redemption story? Survivor: Winners at War was designed to bring former Survivor winners together and give them another chance at glory, but there is one winner in particular who this season is especially sweet for. Ethan Zohn won the competition in 2001 and then competed on the All-Stars season in 2004. Now, hes back for Winners at War after a 15-year hiatus. During that break from tv, Zohns real life became a game of Survivor, so he originally didnt think that returning to the actual show was the greatest idea.

In 2009, Zohn was diagnosed with CD20-positive Hodgkins lymphoma. After a year of treatment, he went into remission. But his battle wasnt over. Over a year and a half later, the cancer came back in his chest. In 2013, he beat the cancer again and went into remission.

After getting healthy, he was invited to come back to Survivor in 2016 but turned it down.

After beating cancer twice, Zohn felt it was time to come back and play the game again.

The fact that I was part of this show way back in the day and had the opportunity to play again, for me, it was a huge gift, he told Entertainment Tonight. Ive been through some health challenges and Iremember sitting in the hospital room watchingHeroes vs. Villains, getting my second stem cell transplant and dreaming to myself that someday Id be healthy enough mentally, physically, spiritually to be able to go playSurvivoragain. When they called for season 40, I instantly said yes because it was just getting to this point in my life, to be able to go playSurvivorfor me was, like, thats winning for me.

But going into the game this time was different than Zohns previous two stints on the show as his mindset had changed.

Having gone through such a major health challenge and recovering from that [was hard], he said. Going through cancer isdifficult but for me, personally, it was the after-effects that was the most difficult. Im a giant ball of anxiety. I live in fear that my cancer is going to come back for a third time, and it just does something to you.

Zohn was able to use the fact that people underestimated him to his advantage. No one knew that much about him as he hadnt played the game in over a decade. He was, however, voted out in the third episode.

Despite enjoying playing in Winners at War, Zohn doesnt think hell compete again.

I dont think I dont know! he said when asked if he would do Survivor again. Its so I just want to put into perspective where, and Im not trying to be the poor me, crying B, but building yourself back up after cancer isa difficult process. AndSurvivor, the game itself, there are moments like I said, I was afraid to go out there without my toolkit that I had and I just didnt know what it would do to me but it screws you up mentally and physically and spiritually and socially. It messes you up.

I just dont know at this age, and what Ive been through health-wise, that I could ever really I dont think it would be a smart decision to go, he continued. I dont think it was a smart decision to play this time, but I think it would be an even worse decision to go next time, health-wise.

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'Survivor 40': Why Ethan Zohn Doesn't Think it Was a Smart Idea to Return for 'Winners at War' - Showbiz Cheat Sheet