So my first real involvement in a cycling event was signing up for the Pan Mass Challenge in 2007. For those of you that are not familiar with the Pan Mass Challenge it is a 192 mile two-day bike ride from Sturbridge MA to Provincetown MA. 100% proceeds from the event go to support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I was able to do the fundraising but unfortunately never made it to the start line. I ended up in the hospital as a result of complications from a prior surgery. Since then I have gone on to ride and complete the PMC in 2008 and 2009 and will ride again this year.
So here is how I got involved in this ride. In September of 2006 I was diagnosed with a very rare type of Cancer call GIST(Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumor). One afternoon at work I ended up passing out and collapsing at work. I was taken to the hospital with severe abdominal pain and was bleeding internally. If the tumor had not ruptured a blood vessel then chances are I would have not known about the tumor until it was too late. I consider myself very lucky that this happened. As a result they were able to remove the tumor before it had grown too large or spread to other areas. Currently there is no cure for GIST. The only course of action is removal of the tumor or taking pills to reduce the tumors size. Drugs like Gleevac and Sutent have been used to reduce tumors but they have not yet found a cure. The rare type of cancer is what led me to Dana-Farber. This is where I receive my follow-up care with the best doctors in the world as it relates to GIST. I still continue with care from Dana-Farber and get CT scans every three months to see if there has been a reoccurrence. To date I have been cancer free and look forward to a long life without cancer.
I ride the Pan Mass Challenge every year and will continue to do that until we have a cure for not just my type of cancer but all types of cancer. 100% of the money raised goes to research at Dana-Farber. All of our lives will be affected by cancer my life has been constantly been impacted by cancer. Here is a quick look at my family history with cancer.
- I first learned about cancer when I was thirteen years old. My mother died at the age of thirty five of Hepatic Metastases, Cancer in the Gall Bladder and Pancreas and Liver.
- I was diagnosed with GIST (Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumor) in September of 2006 – Had 4 surgeries to date but am Currently cancer free.
- Next my older brother died in February 2009 at the age of 40 of Gemistocytic Astrocytoma Brain tumor.
- This year my 2nd mother who raised me from the age of 14 was diagnosed this year with urotheial carcinoma of the upper tract. She had to have her kidney removed and is currently recovering from that surgery. She will make a full recovery and I am looking forward to both of us being part of a unique club. People who are Living Proof that you can beat cancer and have a very normal and productive life. Well as normal as a family can be.
In the past I used to be very upset that cancer had affected so many people in my life. I truly believe that getting cancer has been a blessing in disguise. It makes you look at life differently and makes you value the things that matter. It’s hard not to get caught up in the day-to-day but life is about the bigger picture. How are you going to help others as well as yourself to have a better more balanced life? That part is up to you but I think having almost lost everything helps you to appreciate the people and things around you. I am thankful everyday that I have the support of my wife, who I would not have made it through without. She has been my rock when it came to all of my medical care. She keeps me on the right path when it come to my health. My family is more important than ever and that is why every year we get together for the Pan Mass Challenge and share this experience as a family. I would recommend this to everyone that wants to contribute to the cure for cancer. I do believe that cancer will be cured by places like Dana-Farber and that is why I support this cause so strongly. I hope you will continue to support this ride for a cure with me.
