A week before the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, Eric Shanteau learned devastating news -- he has testicular cancer.

The 24-year-old swimmer told The Associated Press that doctors cleared him to compete in the meet, where he finished second -- ahead of former world-record holder Brendan Hansen -- in the 200m breaststroke to secure his spot on the U.S. Olympic squad.

Shanteau said doctors advised him to have surgery now, but the swimmer is opting to put off the procedure and instead pursue his lifelong goal of competing in the Olympics. However, the Georgia native said he will be monitored closely over the next month and will drop out of the Olympic competition if there are any signs that the cancer is spreading.

The cancer was found after Shanteau noticed an abnormality and was finally persuaded by his girlfriend to see a doctor.

The swimmer told the AP that he's already been contacted by Lance Armstrong's agent. Armstrong overcame testicular cancer to win the Tour de France seven times. Shanteau said Armstrong's agent told his coaches that the swimmer is "the closet thing to Lance Armstrong that there is on the planet right now." Shanteau told the AP he hopes to make even a fraction of the impact that Armstrong has had.

Shanteau, who swims for Longhorn Aquatics, competed in his first world championships last year, where he was fifth in the 200m breaststroke.

Shanteau graduated from Auburn University in 2006 with a degree in entrepreneurship and family business. In his USA Swimming profile, Shanteau says his dream is to one day open a boat shop.