Want to make a tax deductible donation to
the Lance Armstrong Foundation?
DONATE On-Line
| My Story
It seems everyone has a cancer story now. It is hard to find someone these days who has not had a parent, friend, or relative deal with cancer.
Growing up, there was cancer in my family, but being younger, I didn't pay it too much attention. My Aunt went through two bouts of breast cancer, and my grandfather had a bout of lymphoma. At that time, I was more focused on High School, and College.
That all changed in February of 1991.
I had been having severe shoulder pain, was unable to sleep much if at all, and ended up going round and round for over a month w/ my doctor about the cause. Finally, he ordered up a chest x-ray... it showed a large mass in the center of my chest. A follow-up CT scan showed that it appeared to be a benign growth. When they opened my chest, they quickly discovered that it was malignant. Several hours later, they had removed a 2.5 pound lymphoma from my chest, part of my right lung, the nerve on that side that controls that half of my diaphragm, and part of the pericardium around my heart. It seems I was about 3-4 weeks from the tumor growing into my heart wall.
It was quite a wake up call at age 24.
I had four rounds of chemo, and 30 days of radiation therapy. I lost my hair, got bloated from the steroids, and dealt with all the other side effects... but a small price to pay for my health. During treatment however, another blow - my Aunt passed away from her third bout w/ breast cancer. I was unable to deal with going to her funeral while my own battle was going on... but I know my family understood.
My post cancer check-ups went on schedule - first every month, then after three or four, it was every three months, eventually extending to one year between the four year checkup and the five year final exam. I was ready to get on with my life, to put cancer behind me, and to move out of the area w/ my then fiancee (now former-wife)... then... another wake up call.
 My father was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. It had already metastasized beyond his prostate. We talked bout me staying in the area to support him, but he was adamant about me not interrupting my life because of his disease. I stayed in touch over the phone, and that was when I started to realize the importance of what I'd been through as a support tool for him. Though my battle was never in a "terminal" condition, the treatments, visits, questions, doubts, and fears were all the same. As odd as it sounds, I will always look back on those conversations with good memories... knowing that I was providing support and comfort for him. That I was able to provide an ear that truly understood what he was going through.
 Not long after he passed away, I was fortunate enough to start helping out with the Lance Armstrong Foundation's Ride for the Roses. I went down to Austin to do such glamorous tasks as washing out water tanks for the rest stops, hauling food around, and doing whatever I could to assist. Around the same time I began participating in a group called "Cyclists Combating Cancer" (CCC); a group of cancer survivors, family and friends of cancer survivors, and health care professionals who all share the common bond of cycling. These two groups have helped me find a direction for my desire to help out the cancer survivor community. I have met some amazing people over the years through both these groups. I've been able to share in some amazing victories, and been rocked by some difficult stories of loss... but through it all, as difficult as it has been at times, it has reinforced my commitment to support this community and to do what I can to provide comfort, knowledge, education, and awareness.
 I have recently become more active within the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I was honored to be selected as one of two people from each state to be flown to Washington, DC, where I met with my Sentators and Representative to lobby on behalf of all cancer survivors. I've also been selected as a LIVESTRONG Mentor - assisting riders of the LIVESTRONG Challenge in Austin to achieve their fitness and fund-raising goals.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my story, and I thank you in advance for your support of my efforts.
|
|