When I was 25 years old, I can remember the call from the doctor like it was yesterday. He called to give me the results of my colonoscopy and the biopsy test results. When Dr. Friedlander called, he said, “Tim you have what I like to call a bad actor?” I remember my stomach dropping and then I asked the doctor “What does that mean?” Dr. Friedlander said, “The biopsy we removed and tested, was cancerous, we are going to have you back in a few weeks to perform another colonoscopy and take additional biopsies to see if it has spread.” As I hung up the phone I can remember the feeling of uncertainty, anxiety, and fear. Over the next few weeks, a sense of frustration swirled in my head asking myself “How can my body be mutating against and destroying itself?”, and “How can this be happening to me I am so young?”
A few weeks later, I went back in for the follow up colonoscopy and the doctor took some additional biopsy samples. The test came back negative. And with regular screening I am still healthy today. I am a very lucky person.
Many other people suffer emotionally, mentally, and physically through months or years of surgery, radiation, and chemo. Many of us have all had friends, family or colleagues that have been impacted by cancer. Cancer can impact all of us. Working together we can all make a different to find treatments and cures for Cancer so that we and our loved ones do not need to suffer.
Each day, since Dr. Friedlander called and told me my follow-on test results were negative, has been a gift. Since then I have strived to make a difference. This year I am taking on the challenge of completing the Pan Mass Challenge to help find treatments and cures for Cancer.
The PMC ride will cover 192 miles over two days. As I ride, I am sure there will be pain and suffering, but the suffering will not compare to the feeling of a person struggling through cancer treatment, or the pain and void created when we lose a friend or family member to cancer. Awareness of the suffer cancer can cause and your support will be what motivates me through the ride and finish line.
100% of rider raised donations go directly to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to find treatments and cures for cancer. I hope that you will consider helping us all make a difference and donating to support the Pan Mass Challenge.
