1.   But for all his detached and often humorous observations about his illness and impending death, there is an undercurrent of agonizing struggle against defeatism.

2.   He has survived several poisonous bites as well as an agonizing struggle with multiple myeloma, a bone marrow cancer.

3.   He is now pressing ahead on his most agonizing struggle.

4.   It became an agonizing struggle.

5.   These days, after her agonizing struggle, Baiul is back on the ice.