Cancer Strikes Out

Posted May 20, 2008, 8:07 am in Cancer
Credit Growing Bolder

Add throwing a major league no-hitter to the list of accomplishments by cancer survivors who decide to grow bolder after their diagnoses.

Monday night, Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester threw the first no-hitter by a lefty in Fenway Park in 52 years. A remarkable feat under normal circumstances, but Lester's story is beyond remarkable.

Late in his 2006 rookie season, Lester was scratched from his scheduled start against the Oakland Athletics due to a sore back. He thought it was the result of a car crash on the way to the ball park a few days earlier.

Unfortunately, Lester was wrong. Doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital discovered that he had a blood cancer called anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Cancer cells were found in his groin, lung and collarbone.
Lester began aggressive chemotherapy treatments right away. He underwent 6 course of chemo before a scan came up clean. The treatments took his hair and his conditioning, but not his desire.

Six months later he was trying to earn back a job that had already been given away. He was sent down to the Sox AAA team in Pawtucket where he struggled to a 4-5 record with a 3.89 earned run average in 14 starts.

Last July, he got the call. The Sox wanted him back in the bigs. With his parents cheering in the stands, Lester made his major league comeback.

Last October, he was on the mound for the Red Sox's World Series-clinching sweep against Colorado.

Last night, in his 22nd start since getting knocked off the mound by cancer, he willed himself to a no-hitter. The 24-year-old shut down Kansas City 7-0, allowing just two baserunners. It's the first no-hitter in the majors this season, and the first no-hitter by a lefty in Fenway Park in 52 years.

From diagnosis to treatment to triumph, Jon Lester joins the long list of cancer survivors who battle back to achieve greatness. Lester was fortunate that his cancer was treatable and beatable. But beating cancer is one thing. Returning better than ever to achieve greatness is something else all together. Lance Armstrong and many others have done it. And now, so has Jon Lester. It's about attitude.

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GrowingBolder.com has one of the world's most comprehensive collection of cancer survivor stories. Here are some of the people who have battled back from devastating health problems, and are now inspiring others.

Barbara Hillary is a 75-year-old cancer survivor who recently became the first black woman to reach the North Pole.

He was 57 before he ran his first marathon, and he was running strong until a double whammy threatened to end his running career. Now, at 62, Bob Becker is back.

Doctors gave Sean Swarner two death sentences, but now he's on top of the world. The two-time cancer survivor only has one functioning lung, and 15 years after doctors gave him two weeks to live, he climbed the highest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest.

When news anchor Wendy Chioji was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, her struggle was closely followed by thousands. Six years later, Wendy is a relentless fundraiser, inspirational spokesperson and fearless competitor.

Tony Handler isn't supposed to be here. Twenty-five years ago, he was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer and given two years to live. That same year, he completed his first triathlon.

Surviving cancer gives many people a new passion for life, but not many people would use it as an impetus to compete in a grueling, 750-mile bicycle race through the hills of France. But that's exactly what Marc Jarkow of the Villages, Fla., decided to do this past spring.

Karen Einsidler was leading what looked like a storybook life when she was diagnosed with cancer. The mother of triplets was an attorney and active in the master athletes world when she underwent a double mastectomy.

Meg Gaffney made the controversial decision to reject chemotherapy for her breast cancer, and she quit radiation after just one treatment. Now, after a bilateral mastectomy, she's looking for a tattoo artist to help her put the finishing touches on a statement of survival.


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