Lance Armstrong, Cycling, Sports and Cancer

Lance Armstrong, Sports, Cycling and Cancer.

By now, virtually everyone is familiar with the story of Lance Armstrong. From cancer survivor to Tour de France champion seven times over, it is a story of courage, determination and spectacular science. Out of this has come a wonderful organization, LiveStrong

According to the Wikipedia, "On October 2, 1996, Armstrong was diagnosed with stage three testicular cancer that had metastasized, spreading to his lungs and brain. His doctors told him that he had less than a 40 percent chance of survival. After his recovery, one of his doctors told him that his actual odds of survival had been considerably smaller (one even went as far as to say three percent), and that he had been given the estimate primarily to give him hope. The date of October 2 was eventually commemorated by Armstrong and Nike, through the "10//2" line of merchandise. One dollar from the sale of each piece of "10//2" merchandise is donated to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which was founded in 1997. Armstrong managed to recover after surgery to remove his right testicle and two brain lesions, and a course of chemotherapy, performed at Indiana University School of Medicine. The standard chemotherapy for his cancer would have meant the end of his cycling career, because a known side effect was a dramatic reduction in lung function; he opted for a more severe treatment that was less likely to result in lung damage. While in remission he resumed training, but his contract had been canceled by his Cofidis team. He was eventually signed by the newly formed United States Postal Service Pro Cycling Team, and by 1998, he was able to make his successful return in the cycling world marked by his fourth place overall finish in the Vuelta a España. To this day, Armstrong lists his return from cancer as his proudest accomplishment."

One of the hypothesis is that repeated cycling caused or contributed to the cancer. Armstrong himself does not disagree and the medical experts are not sure.

How can such a major problem be avoided? While this is certainly a difficult question to address, there are some factors that can certainly put the odds in one's favor. They include but are not limited to: