In August of 2009, 60-year old Seattle resident Claire Tinker was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer (in which the cancer is contained within the breast and in some cases in nearby lymph nodes.)
While a cancer diagnosis for most people might result in a feeling of helplessness, Claire felt inspired by Lance Armstrong’s determination and faced the cancer head-on: During a gorgeous bike ride in the Carnation area last Fall, Claire envisioned herself a year later–fully recovered–though with the loss of a small bit of tissue and hair.
Claire and her Bianchi Eros, the perfect bike for a woman with a passion for cycling and life.
Claire is an example of what happens when a passionate cyclist encounters cancer: Just a short 10 months since the original diagnosis Claire will be riding the 70-mile version of the 2nd Annual Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) LIVESTRONG Challenge this Sunday, June 20.
The kind of cancer Claire had should have grown into stage 3 or worse, but a regular fitness routine with a focus on cycling kept the cancer in check and enabled her body to heal. Claire told me: “good fitness increases breast cancer survival rates by 50%.”
I met with Claire a few days ago, just a day after she had finished 6 weeks of radiation treatments. Claire thinks her fitness routine and cycling in particular helped mitigate the toxic side effects of the aggressive cancer treatments, which included surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and now a 5-year hormone treatment regimen.
The day before surgery in September, she hiked Cougar Mt to get herself mentally and physically psyched-up for that trauma. The day after surgery she was able to go for a post-surgery power walk and was able to take care of herself without help from friends or family.
Claire’s cancer treatment regimen included chemotherapy on Mondays, which gave her enough time to recover for weekend bike rides (she prefers rides that end at a brew pub–no doubt that a microbrew is a good recovery drink for cycling as well as toxic cancer treatments!). Claire’s weekday fitness program includes lots of walking, and a morning routine of 260 crunches and 240 reps of free weights. During the winter she loves to cross country ski and has twice done the Hog Loppet 30K.
“I believe cycling saved my life,” Claire said. “Because I am in good fitness my body stopped [the cancer].” And to emphasize the point, she wanted to make it clear that she considers her battle with cancer over: “I am recovered.”
Join Claire and tons of other cyclists this weekend at this year’s LIVESTRONG Challenge.
