What to make of Lance...

[JoePSU]

I had my orchiectomy on Wednesday, and have already received 2 copies of the Lance Armstrong book...

While I can't argue with the tenacity and strength of which he approached his treatment, the whole story has him coming off as a self absorbed mama's boy, ala Eric Lindros... The whole thing with dumping his gf and wife, the masochistic expecations he seemed to have of Kik... I dunno, it's kind of turning me off to the whole story...

Maybe I'm just in an incredibly pessimistic mood right now... I think I need to just embrace the message and ignore the man...

[Scott]

A couple things... We're all only human, even those of us capable of seemingly superhuman things like seven Tour de France wins! Being human, we're all both beautiful and flawed in our own ways.

Another book, by Lance's mother, Linda Armstrong Kelly, No Mountain High Enough, offers a little more insight into Lance the man.

As you suggested, I like the book's messages, including these:

• "Knowledge is power and attitude is everything."
• "Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever."
• "We are the lucky ones."

[dadmo]

We also have to be able to seperate the man from his mission. He has done as much for cancer survivors and the cause as anyone alive. Doe's he do it for the glorification of Lance, perhaps but we all end up winners because of his efforts.

[JoePSU]

We also have to be able to seperate the man from his mission. He has done as much for cancer survivors and the cause as anyone alive. Doe's he do it for the glorification of Lance, perhaps but we all end up winners because of his efforts.

I guess I was thinking I would get all swept up in the story, and find new meaning out of beginning this experience. I think I need some more time to digest the whole thing and make some sense of it myself...

[Scott]

The part of the story I still get swept up in is the message of resilience, the attitude, "I'm coming back, and nothing will stop me!" It's too easy for us to get in our own way. OK, so I'll never be a champion cyclist, but... "Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little." --Edmund Burke

[dadmo]

Lance is far enough away from his treatment that the chances of a recurrance are almost nonexistant. My fear is what message it will send to survivors if he should happen to have a relapse and not win.

[Scott]

After ten years, I can't imagine he'll have a recurrence. He could certainly have a second cancer. What message would it send? That we still have a lot of work to do.

[Bob cp]

I had a somewhat similar reaction to Lance's book. I was given a copy to read five days after my surgery, and after a few chapters I decided, "my situation isn't near as bad ", and so I set the book aside before I became more depressed and scared than I already was. Later, after I had been told I needed to have radiation, and then some indicated chemo as well, I picked up his book again and began reading the chapter on "talking to cancer."

For one, I found out the best treatment facility is only 3 hours away.
Although, I will probably go to the Univ of Chicago since it is only 25 minutes. For another, I got caught up in the whole process of his surgery and recovery. Once again, after getting a further diagnosis, I found Lance's book helpful and not near as depressing.

Bob

[dadmo]

What I have always taken from Lance is a message that all survivors (and co-survovors) should listen to. He was cured because he refused to settle for what his doctors said (stay informed) he refused to given into the disease (I am not defined by my sickness) live life to it fullest extent (move out of your comtort zone) live you life as an example of life with and beyond cancer (LIVEstrong). Of all the things he did he made it socialably acceptable to have cancer.

[Bart]

the whole story has him coming off as a self absorbed mama's boy, ala Eric Lindros...

I personally judge him by how he has effected social change and inspired so many people towards empowerment.

Besides, Lindros never won a cup.

Let alone 7