I love the story of Lance Armstrong, the bicyclist who recently won his fifth Tour de France.  I hate the young man had to have the experience of testicular cancer, but his story of survival is both inspiring and uplifting as it tells of perseverance, overcoming obstacles, and not accepting the words of doctors at face value.  His book, It’s Not About The Bike, is a wonderful read which details his experience from the pain in his groan, coughing up blood as the cancer spread to his lungs, his abdoment, and subsequently to his brain.  During all of this, Lance Armstrong, then 25-years old, had no idea he had advanced testicular cancer. 

After two surgeries to remove the cancer from his testicle and his brain, he underwent aggressive chemotherapy treatments that left him thin and emaciated.  Still, he returned to his bicycle, fought fatigue and his body’s weaknesses, and has since gone on to win five Tour de France races.  Today, October 2, 2003, Lance Armstrong celebrates seven years as a cancer survivor and during this time, he has married and fathered children. 

Many people I tell this story often retort “yeah, but he is White, with money and access to the best healthcare.”  My response is often I either know or have read the stories of many Whites with money and access who did not survive as long as my friend Christine, who lacked money and access, but lived 12 years before succumbing to cancer.  A well known reporter for USA Today, died within three years after initial diagnosis of breast cancer, surgery and treatment. 

In a documentary I saw on Lance Armstrong, one of his doctors attributed Lance’s ability to survive to his ability to maintain a positive mental attitude.  This same doctor stated he did not understand why some do well with the same types of treatment and therapies Lance received while others do not.  There are many in the medical profession who consider Lance Armstrong a medical miracle.

In the past year, I too have wondered how Christine, and other women like her, were or are able to survive cancer far longer than others.  There are women I have known in my lifetime who died soon after diagnosis and others who lived for two or three years before succumbing to the disease.  There are women, like my mother's friend, who has lived almost 15 plus years after diagnosis, surgery and initial treatment.  My observation is not scientific, but I have become a convert to maintaining a positive mental attitude for overall well being and good healthy living.

Since Christine’s death, I have often been asked did I know she had breast cancer when I met her.  My answer is yes and my answer was based on visually noticing the edema (swelling) in her left arm.  The edema was an immediate indicator she had breast cancer and not only did she have both breasts removed; she also had several lymph nodes removed from her left arm as well, which told me cancer was originally found in her left breast.  Further, this also indicated her cancer had spread beyond the local area of the breast and had moved into her lymphatic system.  Christine did not have to tell me she had breast cancer when I met her, I knew she had breast cancer and I knew she had metastasis, or the cancer had spread. 

After answering the first question, the immediate follow-up questions often pertain to why I chose to date someone I knew had cancer.  Since I am one who loves educating folks, I often answer the question with a question:  how do you know your partner or spouse does not now have cancer or, how do you know you, yourself, do not have cancer?   I usually receive an answer that assumes feeling healthy and looking good is a sign they or their partners/spouses do not have cancer.  This is a misnomer because a number of people with cancer look and feel healthy, there is just a little something extra going on in their bodies.  Sometimes they are able to keep it in check and other days the cancer is having its way – good days and bad days. 

I use this way of answering questions in an attempt to refocus the issue from “that person” or “them,” something distant to “you” and “yours.”   If a person is prone to think or believe another person’s illness is equivalent to being a leper, they may, in turn, view themselves in the same light if or when the cloud of cancer crosses the threshold of their life.  Refusing the healing effects of love or care because you feel like a leper – or maybe because you felt this way yourself towards someone else – is a frame of mind needed to steer clear of in order to maintain that positive mental attitude necessary for well being during a time of great need. 

I recently heard an interview with Bob Schieffer from CBS' Face The Nation, who was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer.  He stated 40% of Americans will experience cancer on some level in their lifetime and as the population ages, the number will increase to 50% or greater.  This means, Lance Armstrong, his wife, his children, friends and his family are among that now, 40% group who have been touched by cancer.  Likewise, a number of people will go in for their annual exams and will be diagnosed with breast cancer, lung cancer, bone cancer, ovarian cancer, or colon cancer, in its beginning or advanced stages, and they too will become members of that 40% group.

Part of our survival will depend, in large part, on our own personal power and a conscious decision to not give that personal power away to others such as friends, our children, medical doctors, clinics, or bad infomercials.  To maintain the positive mental attitude needed for that day when we or someone we love is affected by cancer, or any other life threatening illness, is to eliminate some of the stresses causing us undue hardship now – while we can.  Some of us sisters are out there trying to care for everybody’s children, solving everybody’s problems, making our problems bigger than need be, and we are just plain ole overwhelmed.  Do not wait until you are strapped with yet another problem, one that pertains to your personal health and well being, before you start handling your business for you.  Learning to say “NO” is a beginning step to an even more wonderful move towards self empowerment on the road to the positive mental attitude we all need when life deals a harsh blow.

Another question I often get is if I met someone today with breast cancer (or cancer), will I still date that person?  The answer, simply, is yes.  I do not know if I have cancer at this moment, right now.  I may meet a woman who has cancer forming in her body that will not manifest as a spot on an x-ray until 2006.  Is there a way I can do a body scan or psychic reading on her body today to determine what she will have tomorrow?  No.  I could argue and break up with a woman today and discover three months from now she was diagnosed with cancer.  The cancer did not show up in her body the day she was diagnosed.  The cancer actually existed months or years before it actually hit the radar of a health screening.  We do not know who has cancer and who does not.  Likewise, we do not know who will develop cancer and who will not. 

Lastly, another common question I have heard, asked by the bravest of the brave, pertains to sex.  A woman who has suffered through mastectomy surgery often does not feel as sexy as she did prior to surgery.  She will feel her body was mutilated by the surgeon and will equally feel cancer is a mutilating disease.  But, she is just as sensitve in the places now marked by surgical scars as she was prior to her surgery.  She still craves attention, she still loves being touched, she is still sensitive, and oh my God - Yes!  She still has an orgasm. 

Lance Armstrong was 25-years old, athletic, a cyclist, probably felt healthy and certainly looked good.  I am sure he was eating well and drinking plenty of water and overall living a good and healthy lifestyle.  I am sure he was dating during the time he was going through his ordeal, totally unaware the cancer he knew nothing about had now traveled to his abdomen, his lungs and on to his brain.   He thought nothing of the little coughing incident which lasted a day or two.  When he finally went in to check out the pain in his groin, thinking he had an infection or epididymitis, he was told he actually had cancer and the cancer had traveled through his body.  He has since married and has fathered children.  His children may be predisposed to cancer, his wife does not have cancer, and I can only assume since I am not in his life, he has very healthy erections.

Yes, he may have had money but money did not get him physicially or mentally through his ordeal.  He was the determined only son of an equally determined single mother who worked her way up from supermarket checkout girl to business executive.  He has always maintained a positive mental attitude about life and his illness and this is the single most common factor I have found with many cancer survivors. 

Christine lived her life knowing the cancer always existed in her body.  Lance Armstrong continues living a productive life while knowing a spot still exists on his lung.  Do not let cancer take away your power, instead put the power where it belongs, in the living and enjoyment of life, each and every day – it is the only life you have.  Live it well. 

Links

My First Priority is Just to Live - http://tcrc.acor.org/lance.html

Lance Armstrong Online:  http://www.lancearmstrong.com/
The Lance Armstrong Foundation:  http://www.laf.org/

Kickoff Ride: Los Angeles

Event Festivities: Universal CityWalk, Hollywood

Saturday, October 11, 2003

Mayor James Hahn will declare October 11 “Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope Day” in Los Angeles! Lance Armstrong and hundreds of riders and their friends and family members will give the Tour of Hope Team a rousing send-off on their cross-country journey.

While cyclists on the 100 km recreational ride make their way through the course, family and friends can enjoy live music at CityWalk, and have the opportunity to sign the Cancer Promise, in support of cancer research. Entertainment will be provided by “The 88,” a popular Los Angeles rock band, and solo artist John Hofkinson.

The post-ride celebration will feature live music and a program with Lance Armstrong; Peter Dolan; Mayor Hahn; Dr. Judy Gasson, president of UCLA’s Jonnson Cancer Center; Chris Carmichael of Carmichael Training Systems and Lee Walker of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.