Category Archives: Cancer

Lance Armstrong

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So maybe some of you have heard, but Lance Armstrong has been in the news alot lately. I have alot of friends ask what I think of all the doping allegations, the USADA’s report, and all the other professional cyclist that have come forward and testified against him.

IT DOES NOT MATTER.

I was diagnosed with Cancer (Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) on June 6, 2003. I had a mediastinal mass in my chest just above my lungs that was encroaching on my heart. The mass was 9 x 5 inches in size. The oncologist had said that if we had caught this any later I would have died. My wife and I fought this disease for 6 long months and we beat it.

That summer my brother-in-law convinced me to buy a bike and we started to ride together. Now I used to ride alot when I was a teenager (Palmyra-Victor, Palmyra-Newark, Palmyra-Clifton Springs, Palmyra-Shortsville .. you get the idea). On the bike I felt free and invincible. Or so we thought.

10 months later I relapsed. I was told there was no evidence of the Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, but a couple biopsies showed I now had Hodgkins Lymphoma.

This started another battery of tests. Every couple of weeks I would stay the weekend at the hospital while a new combination of chemotherapy (ABVD, ICE)  was tried to see if the Cancer would respond to it. The Cancer was not responding to any of the chemotherapy. That is when my oncologist said that our only choice was to try an Auto-Stem Cell Transplant.

On December 24, 2004 I went into the hospital for the Auto-Stem Cell Transplant. I asked my oncologist what my chances were at this point. He said you have a 30% chance of getting through this treatment and going home. I started the BEAM chemotherapy treatment that day. It would last 4 hours everyday for 5 days. It was on the 3rd day of the treatment that I was lying in bed wondering how I am going to get through this when I saw this commercial come on. I saw Lance Armstrong and he was some sort of cyclist and he was talking about something called the Ride for the Roses in Austin, Texas. I felt this instant connection. I felt hope for the first time. I kept thinking this guy had cancer, beat it and is now a professional cyclist. If he beat it then so can I and I am going to make it to the Ride for the Roses and ride 100 miles.

That day I started training for this Ride for the Roses. The transplant ward was on the 8th floor. I would walk up and down those 8 floors of stairs twice a day. Once in the morning and once at night. I spent 19 days in the hospital and as soon as I got home I put my bike on a trainer and started riding.

I raised $10,490 that year for the LiveStrong Foundation at the 2005 Ride for the Roses and earned the Green Jersey. I was only 10 months out from an Auto Stem Cell Transplant and was able to ride 75 miles. It was one my greatest athletic achievements.

My point in all this is this. My feelings for Lance Armstrong have never been about his bike or the races he won or lost. The bike was just the object that sparked the connection I felt I have with him.

New Year’s Eve 2012 will mark 8 years in remission for me. I have an amazing wife and even more amazing 4 year old twins (Jamie, & Luke). Something I thought back in 2003 when all of this started would never happen.

Lance in my darkest hour you gave me what I needed most:

HOPE

Nothing the USADA, UCI, other professional cyclists, other amateur cyclists, or the news will ever be able to take that away from me.

 

New team member – Jim Fetten

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Cycling For Cancer is proud to announce our newest team member Dr. James Fetten!

During his participation in the Tour of Hope with Lance Armstrong in 2003, Dr. James Fetten, a partner at Interlakes Oncology and Hematology, PC and member of The Interlakes Foundation, witnessed first hand how physical exercise helped cancer patients and survivors improve their strength and endurance. It was an amazing demonstration of the power of the human spirit. As a direct result of his participation in the Tour of Hope, Dr. Fetten founded the The Interlakes Foundation Wellness Program now The Western New York Wellness. The main focus of the program is regularly scheduled bike rides for cancer survivors, the first of its kind in the Rochester community.

Dr. Fetten came to us wanting to get back into cycling and further our cancer awareness cause. His addition is a natural fit with our team’s connection to cancer survivorship and the Western New York Wellness.

Western New York Wellness Program – Ride To Survive – 10/02/2010

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Come out and support a great group of people, great cause along with a great event:

Western New York Wellness, Inc. presents

RIDE TO SURVIVE 10.02.10

Tour de Rochester for LiveSTRONG Day

October 2, 2010

Lance Armstrong’s cancer diagnosis came on 10/2/96. And that’s the day he started fighting for his life – and for the lives of 28 million cancer survivors around the world! To commemorate this day, his foundation founded LiveSTRONG DAY. And this year, the Western New York Wellness Program has joined in the celebration! We are sponsoring a Tour de Rochester for LiveSTRONG Day! We’ve been cycling throughout the spring and summer months and we will wrap up the season with this more-than-appropriate event to honor the 28 million cancer survivors around the world!

The Tour de Rochester will be a 30 mile ride beginning at the Ferry terminal parking lot in Charlotte. The ride will use all paved bike paths and some roads. (See the link here for the map: Ride to Survive ) The ride offers many opportunities to shorten from the 30 miles, so we welcome one and all to join us for some or all of it!

We will ride from Charlotte, along the Genesee River to Latta Rd and along the Parkway Bike Trail to the 390 Bike Trail and go south to Ridge Rd. After a quick jaunt down Latona Rd and Long Pond Rd., we will pick up the Erie Canal Trail to Genesee Valley Park. After crossing the river, we will ride north along the river and re-cross the river on the Court St. Bridge and ride to High Falls. We’ll take the High Falls Bridge to St. Paul St. and go north for a mile down into the river gorge and cross over the power dam at Maplewood Park, through the park and continue to Lake Ave. Just past Riverside Cemetery, the bike path goes back down to the river and along the boardwalk at Turning Point Park. We continue along the river back to the ferry terminal.

If you’ve never taken this route, bring your camera! The sights at the dam, Maplewood Falls and along the river can only be accessed on foot or by bike. And with the autumn colors, it is a sight to behold!

Bring water, some fruit or an energy bar. Bring some lunch money because anyone who is interested can gather following the ride at a restaurant near the river.

We are asking every rider to make a contribution to the LiveSTRONG Foundation, so please bring yours with you and we will collect and submit as a testimonial to our WNYWP inspiration Lance Armstrong and all our survivor friends as well as a memorial for those for whom the answers did not come soon enough.

This will be our last group ride of the year – help us make it the BEST! Come on out and bring a friend or two. We look forward to seeing you there – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010, 10 AM, Ferry Parking Lot, Charlotte, Rochester, NY.

See the LiveSTRONG Day page for this event

Spin With Survivors – WNYWP Fundraiser

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During the month of January, Western New York Wellness will be hosting their 3rd annual “Spin with the Survivors” Virtual Spin Tour and Fundraiser (www.wnywp.org), which focuses on bringing maximum visibility to the fight against cancer. Centered on cycling, the Western New York Wellness Program makes available FREE indoor and outdoor cycling services to all cancer survivors in the Rochester, New York and surrounding areas.

I cannot tell you how much this group has helped me since I became a member in 2006. This December 31st will mark 5 years that I have been cancer free. I credit this group with keeping me active and healthy.

Please help in this fundraising event with your generous pledge. We all know someone touched by cancer. The money that you pledge will contribute to funding the FREE physical activity programs offered by Western New York including:

- weekly outdoor bike rides (during the summer)
- weekly indoor spin classes (during the winter)
- outreach and education programs
- walking program for those just emerging from treatment and are not yet able to ride
- gym membership grants

The “Spin with the Survivors” event also provides a unique opportunity for all to help. This is our chance to help directly and in that spirit, I’ve chosen to Spin with the Survivors, and ask that you support me, remembering that your donations are tax-deductible.

To make an on–line pledge:
Step 1: go to http://www.wnywp.org/spin_about.htm
Step 2: Select the a name (Shannon Case) from the drop down list.
Step 3: Select a pledge amount.
Step 4: When ready to donate, click the “Submit Pledge” button.

Thank you for your support. Together, we will make a difference in so many lives!