AUSTIN, Texas -- Lance Armstrong keeps adding Tour de France
titles while his personal life keeps churning toward another,
perhaps more important milestone: the five-year anniversary of his
diagnosis of testicular cancer.
For cancer survivors, the fifth anniversary is an exhilarating
date on which many can be declared "cured" of the disease.
That won't be quite the case for Armstrong, the U.S. Postal
Service rider from Austin who won his third consecutive Tour on
Sunday.
Although the likelihood of the cancer returning is remote, his
doctors may never declare Armstrong cured, said Dr. Lawrence
Einhorn, professor at the Indiana University Medical Center and one
of the doctors who treated Armstrong in 1996. Einhorn is president
of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and an expert in
testicular cancer.
"For many common cancers when you reach five years, the doctor
does declare (a patient) cured," Einhorn said.
"Testicular cancer is different. He still is in a slightly
higher risk pool," Einhorn continued. "Occasionally, people do
have late relapse."
First diagnosed in October 1996, Armstrong's biggest anniversary
was Oct. 2, 1997. If the cancer were to return after surgery and
chemotherapy, it most likely would have returned by then.
"The big smile is at the one-year level," Einhorn said.
The chances of the cancer returning dropped sharply after the
first year. Einhorn said Armstrong faces only a 1 percent to 2
percent chance of recurrence.
Armstrong himself said during the final week of the Tour that
even while at the peak of his physical performance, "I'm still a
cancer survivor. I always will be one."
Armstrong noted the upcoming anniversary, but said last week
he'll continue to be tested annually.
"It's not as if I make five years and then say I'm not worried
about it or not scared about it," he said. "You hear a lot of
stories about people who make it 10, 15, 20 years and then it comes
back. So I'll never turn my back."
Einhorn said the cyclist faces annual blood work, a physical
exam and X-rays to scan for any sign of cancer.
Nonetheless, Einhorn said the five-year anniversary is "an
important bridge to cross. It's about toughing it out."
It was for Dan Burnstein, 34, of Tulsa, Okla., who in 1992 was
diagnosed with testicular cancer that had just started to spread
into his lymph nodes.
"It's wonderful," Burnstein said of when the date crossed his
calendar. "It's like you're set free. I was done."
For Michael Garberding of Houston, Armstrong's anniversary is
yet another reminder of how far the cyclist has come. Garberding,
32, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in February 2000.
Armstrong was given just a 50 percent to 60 percent chance to
live when doctors first found the cancer had spread to his lungs
and brain. Now he's one of the top athletes in the world and has
dominated the globe's toughest endurance challenge.
"I think that I'm at the highest level of my career,"
Armstrong said.
"He's truly an inspiration," said Garberding, who turned to
the Internet for daily results of the race.
Garberding, who goes to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston
for his treatment and follow-up visits, is participating in a study
of cancer patients sponsored in part by the Lance Armstrong
Foundation.
Part of the study is surveying the psychology of cancer patients
and how well they cope with their treatments.
Armstrong's success definitely boosts morale, Garberding said.
"When I was first diagnosed, my uncle said, 'You know, Lance
Armstrong won the Tour after his cancer.' I was like, 'Thanks, man.
Thanks for the high aspirations.'
"The more he does, the better press he gets," Garberding said.
"And people become more aware of this disease."
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