April 21, 2008
Lance Armstrong lifts spirits during Dana-Farber visit
When famed cyclist Lance Armstrong visited Dana-Farber on April 18, he brightened the day of every patient, survivor, and staff member who shook his hand, posed for a photo, or thanked him for his work on behalf of the cancer cause.
But Armstrong's tour of an adult infusion clinic, where patients were receiving treatment for a variety of cancers, also reinforced his message that the nation must intensify its war on cancer.
"This disease is hundreds of diseases, and to declare overall victory we'll have to cure every one of them," Armstrong stated during a press conference. "We lose one American a minute [to cancer]. We still have a long way to go."
Armstrong, who survived spreading testicular cancer and went on to win seven Tour de France cycling races, was in town to run in Monday's Boston Marathon, and he spent an hour at Dana-Farber, where the foundation that he launched 11 years ago has had a tangible effect.
He toured the Lance Armstrong Foundation Adult Survivorship Clinic's new space on Dana 1A, which helps survivors address the long-term consequences of their treatments and live as fully as possible. Established in 2004, it was the first in a national network of survivorship clinics that the Foundation launched to help care for the nation's roughly 12 million people living beyond cancer. More recently, Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) support has helped Dana-Farber reach out to survivors in urban and rural areas elsewhere in New England.
With their ubiquitous yellow LIVESTRONG wristbands, Armstrong and his Texas-based foundation have generated considerable awareness of cancer issues. "Lance has given millions of people hope that cancer can be defeated and that you can live a fantastic life after the diagnosis and treatment of cancer," Institute President Edward J. Benz Jr., MD, said.
Up on Dana 10, Benz escorted Armstrong to a chemotherapy bay, along with several clinic staff members and Lisa Diller, MD, director of the Perini Family Survivors' Center at Dana-Farber. The Lance Armstrong Foundation clinic is part of the Perini Center.
"How's everybody doing? Sorry for barging in. I'm Lance," the tanned Armstrong said, pulling up seats next to individual patients and chatting with them. In the next bay he met Robert Rock of Needham, who has testicular cancer. They exchanged words about drug regimens and touched fists in solidarity. "I was having a tough day, and this was a nice way to end it," Rock said after Armstrong had left. His wife, Mary, captured the moment on her cell phone camera.
During his visit, Armstrong also sat down briefly with a handful of cancer survivors who have benefited from the LAF clinic's services, as well as trustees Eileen Perini (who has long been a champion of survivorship services) and Billy Starr, founder of the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge bike-a-thon to benefit Dana-Farber.
Armstrong also met two cancer survivors running in the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge, which supports basic cancer investigators at the Institute. They offered tips about Monday's event, reminding Armstrong to watch for the young Jimmy Fund Clinic patients who cheer on the runners at the 25-mile mark near Kenmore Square.
Melanie Horris of North Easton is a two-time breast cancer survivor who'll be running the Marathon Challenge in honor of her patient partner, Lexie Williams. When Horris stops at that mile marker, she will be wearing more than a smile for Lexie; she will be wearing a memento from Lance Armstrong's trip to the Institute: the cyclist's signature on her running singlet.
Armstrong's visit was a day she will never forget.
— Debra Ruder
debra_ruder@dfci.harvard.edu
