Just a week after news spread that Ethan Zohn's cancer had returned, the 'Survivor: Africa' winner proved that he wasn't going to let the cancer crush his spirits by completing the New York City marathon.

It was an emotional moment for both Zohn and his girlfriend or eight years, Jenna Morasca, who was there when he received the news that his cancer had returned to his lungs. But Zohn wasn't going to let his aching body stop him from achieving his goal. He was determined to outrun the cancer.

"My quads were burning, my hamstrings felt like they were about to rip off," he told People magazine after the marathon. "But I knew with every step I was crushing little cancer cells on the road. I even wrote 'f--k canzer' on the bottom of my shoes. That's what kept me going."

Ethan Zohn's cancer is back. The winner of 'Survivor: Africa' and recent contestant on 'The Amazing Race' told People his cancer returned in September.

"It's localized in my lung area," Zohn said. "But it's good that it's not all over my body."

In 2009, Zohn was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called CD20-positive Hodgkin's lymphoma. After undergoing treatment, Zohn revealed he was cancer-free in late April 2010.

Zohn's girlfriend, fellow 'Survivor' winner Jenna Morasca, appeared with him on CBS's 'The Amazing Race.' She was also by his side when he got the news. However, Zohn said she's taking the news in stride. "We're both filled with fear and anger and anxiety and gratitude and frustration. But there's so much love there. It's this whole spectrum of emotions."