It was one year ago when I joined the ranks of so many women who have been afflicted with breast cancer. I began a roller coaster of emotions when I went from thinking it would be just a minor lumpectomy, to the complicated physical and emotional journey of a double mastectomy and reconstruction. I was blessed with incredible support from my family, amazing friends, and a trio of doctors who led me through a very difficult j...

When I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with bone cancer in my left leg and was told I might never walk again. After 9 months of aggressive chemotherapy and several life saving surgeries I was cancer free, but my road to recovery occurred over many years as I had to re-learn how to walk and regain mobility and strength in my left leg. There was no question that this was the most frustrating and challenging period of my l...

I rode in my first Connecticut Challenge in 2007.  My best friend since 2^nd grade, Pat Sclafani, was in the midst of treatment for stage 4 thymoma, a treatment which included chemotherapy, aggressive thoracic surgery and radiation followed by still more chemo.  Pat, an avid cyclist, had heard about the Challenge and he suggested that we get a few people together to ride.  I didn’t have the guts to tell him that ...

On November 9th, 2010 I arrived at my doctor's office thinking I had strep throat.  My severe sore throat made it difficult for me to even swallow.  During the medical examination my doctor discovered a lump in my neck. At the time we did not know what it was, but over the next five months, including a full thyroidectomy (surgery to remove the thyroid gland), it was determined that I had thyroid cancer. As I recovered from...

It was July 2009 when Sally, my wife of 16 years, told me she was planning to ride in the CT Challenge bike ride later that month. She had been battling lung cancer for about a year and was in the middle of a six-week hiatus from her third set of chemo treatments. She rode the 12-mile ride with three friends, Meg Staunton, Carolyn McKenna and Kitty Fiol. The smile on her face and the satisfaction in her voice could not have ...

I ride because of friends and family.  At first I was drawn in by a group of buddies who were helping with a fledgling effort to help cancer survivors.  As an avid rider I was a good choice to participate and the Connecticut Challenge was an excuse to join others in a long ride for a good cause.  Helping mark the course for the big day and marshaling riders along a tough century course was my idea of fun.  Over the years my...

Two years ago- in July of 2009- I rode my first CT Challenge bike ride. I woke up on the morning of the ride and asked my husband if he had a bike helmet because even though I was still very weak from my treatment, I wanted to ride 25 miles with the CT Challenge. What could he say, but lets go?! When we got there, the first thing that happened was a survivor lap. A survivor lap?! Balloons, butterflies, applause… it w...

Every participant in the CT Challenge had his or her own personal reasons for “going the distance”. Perhaps they were survivors, or had a close friend or family member who was a survivor. Maybe they lost a loved one to cancer and were riding for them. Many health care professionals in the oncology world rode to honor their patients. Kert and I rode for all of those reasons. As a medical oncologist at The Leever Cance...

Six months after Sharyn & I were married, we learned she had cancer.  We experienced all of the awful emotions that accompany such a diagnosis. When we found out about the Connecticut Challenge and its mission to provide support to cancer survivors, we knew we had to get involved. I ride because there is an unmet need. I’ve come to understand there can be more survivorship clinics and education programs for healthcar...

When my oncologist told me about my advanced diagnosis, I felt like the floor had dropped out from under me. Who was he talking to? I felt great. Why was he talking about maintaining my quality of life?  I was as happy as I have been in a long time and I was having about as much fun as I have had in a long time. How could this be happening? I am the mother to a scrumptious little boy and have my whole life in fron...