Mr. Comeback

When John Pierce won the Mr. America bodybuilding contest in 2010, he was ready to parlay his fame in the Bonita Springs gym he had just acquired.

Indeed, the body builder came in fifth place in the Mr. Universe contest seven months later.

But shortly after the world competition, a routine scan of Pierce's lower back revealed a slow-growing cancerous tumor in one kidney. The news came as a shock to the 44-year-old athlete who had been meticulous about his diet and only participated in drug-free competitions.