I am a cancer survivor.
My story is about Attitude.

To me, live strong means NOT "DIDN'T DIE" BUT LIVING STRONG, LIVING LOUD, "SUCKING THE JUICE OUT OF LIFE".

I've worn the yellow wristband because IT WAS MY COMPANION DURING CHEMO AND NOW I TELL TOTHERS HOW IMPORTANT CANCER RESEARCH IS. I AM LIVING PROOF.

FROM DAY 1 MY ATTITUDE WAS "BRING IT ON". I FELT LIKE I HAD TRAINED MY WHOLE LIFE FOR THIS ONE EVENT. I WORE ARMY FATIGUES TO CHEMO WITH "CANCER, THE REAL ENEMY" EMBROIDERED ON THE POCKET. I MADE OTHERS LAUGH, AND CONSIDER THAT THERE WAS A CHANCE THAT THEIR ATTITUDE DID MAKE A HUGE DIFFERNCE IN THEIR OUTCOME. AFTER I READ LANCE'S BOOK "IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE", I REALIZED THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO LAY IN BED AND WAIT FOR THIS TO BE OVER. I GOT ON MY BIKE AND RODE. SOME DAYS ALL I COULD DO WAS WATCH THE TOUR ON TV BUT OTHERS DAYS I GOT OUT THERE. I WAS SLOW BUT I WASN'T ON THE CANVAS. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO FACE WHEN THE DOCTORS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD JUST REMOVED ALL MY FEMALE PARTS BELOW THE WAIST. I HAD OVARIAN CANCER. ALL I KNEW FOR SURE WAS; GILDA RADNER HAD IT AND SHE DIED. THANK GOD I WAS DIAGNOSED AROUND THE TIME OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE. SEEING LANCE COME BACK FROM THE DEPTHS OF HIS ILLNESS TO WIN THE 6TH TOUR IN A ROW GAVE ME A DOSE OF HOPE THAT NO STUDY OR MEDICATION COULD DO. I KNEW THAT I'D WIN TOO. AND I DID. AND TODAY ONE YEAR LATER I AM TRAINING TO EARN A SPOT ON THE NEXT TOUR OF HOPE. I'VE BECOME AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS. IT'S MY TURN TO SHARE WITH OTHERS WHAT'S POSSIBLE AFTER A CANCER. I WAS BLESSED TO BE DIAGNOSED BEFORE ANY SYMPTOMS APPEARED AND I KNOW JUST HOW UNUSUAL THAT IS. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERNCE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER AND I'M GOING TO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY I HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO TELL OTHERS HOW THEY CAN BEAT IT TO. I UNDERSTAND WHAT LANCE MEANT NOW WHEN HE SAID THAT CANCER WAS THE BEST THING THAT HAD EVER HAPPEND TO HIM. MY LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AND I AM LIVING STRONG BECAUSE OF IT. SEE YOU IN 2006!

Add a comment