Riding After Cancer

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    • #107487

      My life was always fueled by adrenaline. Snowboarding, 4 wheeling, being in the Army and traveling the world. I was in the midst of one of these adventures when I got diagnosed with Leukemia, at the age of 23, while in Afghanistan.

      I then went on to have other adventures like: A morphine induced 3 week coma,tracheotomy, learning to breathe again, going from 205 lbs to 115 lb, many chemotherapy sessions, radiation treatments, pretty nurses, relapses and remissions, and other fun things.

      I am 26 now and for the past year I have finally been able to tentatively feel quasi-normal. Still lots of hospital visits and many pills, but I have been able to get back to the gym. I have nerve damage to my leg and it is painful to do anything high impact so I decided a few days ago to buy a mountain bike. This is my first time ever mountain biking, but it is amazing!

      It’s low impact enough for me to ride the beginner trails and still get that rush I have been missing, so long as I don’t run into trees or fall off. My body doesn’t react as quickly as it used to and any slight climb is enough to make me curse the day I bought my bike, but the reward for making that climb and hitting that super steep downhill (for everyone else it’s probably described as a gradual descent, but it’s all about perspective) is completely worth it.

      Everyone I have met, on my 3 rides, has been incredibly nice and helpful. It’s such a great community. I go to sleep now and instead of thinking about my upcoming doctors appointment, I think of where I want to ride next. This may seem a little overenthusiastic after only 3 rides, of which only 1 was an actual mtb trail, but it’s all about perspective.

      So don’t take those moments for granted, the ones where the world becomes yours and nothing matters except for those few seconds or minutes of pure bliss, because they are fragile things.

      New to your community,
      Adam

    • #107488

      Welcome aboard. After an awful ordeal like you have had, its good to see that a mountain bike re-ignites your passion for adrenalin. It only gets worse 😃

      I think you will find we are in general a friendly bunch (on here and in person). Feel free to bring up any mountain bike questions on here, somebody will usually have an answer to share.

    • #107489

      Hey amb6708 welcome aboard. I lived in the Raleigh/Durham area for about 13 years. There are lots of trails out there. Think of joining a club (I never did and wish I had). Best of luck and when I head out that way I’ll send you a message and maybe we can ride.

    • #107490

      Dude, it is stories like yours that make me want to ride faster, harder, and stronger. If you have any questions feel free to ask!

    • #107491

      Welcome to singletracks amb6708,I pretty much know the road your on.I just didn’t actually have cancer,although I had to have my colon removed to avoid cancer.I love riding bikes because it’s basically the first thing I learned to like in life and I’ve found that no matter what I go through,there always seems to be a bike waiting for me somwhere,somehow.I hope to not bring you down on this note but one of my bike mechanics buddies just past away from cancer.Got a call one day saying that he was in the hospital for cancer,and inbetween the time I got that phone call and the time I planned a hospital visit,he past away.It happens soo fast,just saying though,go out and ride it for what its worth and have fun while ya can.Even that bike mechanic of 30+ years use to complain he was’nt getting out and riding as much as he wanted to..

    • #107492

      Hey man, welcome aboard, and thanks for your inspiring story! Good luck on your road to full recovery–sounds like it will be tough, but cool to hear that mountain biking is giving you some additional motivation!

      Like everyone else has said, it’s an awesome sport, and one that you can really do for a lifetime. So welcome to the fold, and welcome to the singletrack lifestyle!

    • #107493

      Thanks everyone! It is an awesome sport and I am stoked that everyone is genuinely nice and helpful.

    • #107494

      Welcome to the site, Adam.

      Best of luck with your endeavors and adventures!

    • #107495

      Wow man, great story and really it was just what I needed to read right now. I am currently training for a Tough Mudder Competition for the Wounded Warriors and I was running low on inspiration today. Thanks for your service as well. I am in the Air Force and my brother is in the Army. Welcome to the site and keep on going man. There are many cycling events put on through Wounded Warriors, that may be something you’d be interested in, not too many mountain biking events but they sure are awesome to attend…Like I said thanks for your service!

    • #107496

      Adam glad to hear that you found the life of MTN Biking. I got my first mtn bike in 83 in 97 I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a tumor the size a little bigger then a softball and 150 quarter size ones in my chest and lungs. Thanks to the fact that I was on my mtn bike that I got through it as well as I did. It did take a toll and I didn’t ride for a year but now I’m in Lake Tahoe and riding some of the best trails ever. Keep on that Mountain Bike.

    • #107497

      Wow Adam, and God Bless. I’m glad your doing well enough to ride. Gears are a great equalizer, you can always down shift. And let me ad another Thank you for your Service. I watched a shipmate,and close friend battle Leukemia in the mid 90s. He ultimately didn’t make it. MTBing is, for me to, a new lease almost on life. It challenges me and has endless possibility. There is danger. I often think of Ted Nugent and Fred Bears voice, when I drop into a trail, talking about "Teenage thrill seekers." It just you, the trail and the bike. And the people you meat along the way, so I hope your experience continues to be positive.

    • #107498

      Thanks for your service to your country Adam. I have a Brother-In-Law that has been to Iraq twice and Afghanistan at least once since Iraq. I hate that your life has been challenged by Cancer, and I hope that you continue to grow stronger. Enjoy the Mountain Bike, and make the most of life.

      Best of Luck to you.

    • #107499

      Had a spinal infection in a spinal disc, in the fluid it’s menningitis but the bike was my road to recovery.
      I’d bought a great Turner Burner and love it but when I began my recovery is when it really paid off.
      The bike is so beautifully balanced I didn’t fall for months, even though I was riding pathetically slow. My back was weak for a while, so were my quads. But 3 1/2 months out of the hospital and I was on a Utah MTB trip. When you can afford it there are many great handling bikes. Test them all, that are in your size.

    • #107500

      Hay there Adam. How have you been getting on? I’m sure a bunch of us would like to know. 😃

    • #107501

      Hi Adam,
      I am also a cancer survivor and much older than you. I had testicular cancer in 1999. I also turned to mountain biking during recovery. I knew I was alive when I did my first down hill!
      God bless you young man! Good luck in life..

    • #107502

      Welcome, that is a great story. I am glad you are getting joy on the bike, in no time at all you will be back to where you were. Thanks for sharing this!

    • #592196

      During treatment, cancer patients are given very specific and targeted amounts of radiation in order to destroy cancer cells.

      To measure the doses, an instrument is placed in a radiation beam, which produces an electrical charge inside the instrument. Depending on the size of the electric charge or current, scientists can determine the corresponding amount of deposited energy the instrument received. The next step is to ’convert’ the electrical quantity into a radiation dose by applying a calibration coefficient, a number that signifies an amount of radiation based on the corresponding electrical quantity.

    • #592210

      If only just a very small percentage would appreciate like that ,the earth would be so much better. I myself, look at every ride that is  ridden as one closer to the last and just think about the next ride especially when things are tough

    • #592211

      killer climb

      If only just a very small percentage would appreciate like that ,the earth would be so much better. I myself, look at every ride that is  ridden as one closer to the last and just think about the next ride especially when things are tough

      There could be a larger percentage if they were to walk in those moccasins…

      I’ve done just that, post heart surgery and now get to know the rat maze of a cancer center. As I see it, Covid is childs play by comparison to what cancer patients get to know and experience. Wearing that pair of moccasins for the 4th time in my life. My bike collection has been on the job in ways no other can even think of imagining. They provide therapy, they provide a diversion and distraction from the daily deeds to come. My bikes are very special friends and are there for the betterment.

      At this point in the game… I have my good days, I have my bad ones. I take it in stride and live each day to the fullest extent humanly possible.

      It’s my party and I’ll ride if I want to… Better be ready to ride, peeps!!

       

    • #595383

      You should be very carefully in riding I suggest to use Schwinn Volare.

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