| > | | | | stuff and we should fix it first. Catching up with |
| From the desk of Dr Magne, author of Cancer Free | | | | Lance Armstrong for a chat can be challenging at |
| For Life Lance Armstrong’s legend was born | | | | best. While the seven-time Tour de France winner |
| in the mountainsthe French Alps which resulted in | | | | may have retired from cycling last year, he is busier |
| seven consecutive wins of the Tour de France. And | | | | than ever. In addition to his work with the LAF, |
| all this after surviving testicular cancer that spread to | | | | Armstrong has ongoing commitments with American |
| his brain. | | | | Century Investments, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dasani, |
| Now, newly retired from cycling, 35-year-old | | | | Discovery Channel, Nike and Sirius Satellite Radio. |
| Armstrong has set his sights on Capitol Hill, as he is | | | | In California, he has just spoken on a panel at the |
| now followed by the LIVESTRONG army that wears | | | | Milken Institute Global Conference. His panel, entitled, |
| the ubiquitous yellow wristbands. They follow him to | | | | The New Philanthropists and the Future of Medical |
| fight the battle all of them know too well: cancer. | | | | Research Funding, explored ways that private |
| Armstrong says the mission is bigger than any | | | | funds can best be used for research in light of the |
| seven Tours. If every cancer survivor in this country | | | | government’s funding decreases. Armstrong |
| said, That’s it. I am going to use my vote | | | | talked about creating an army for change, |
| for or against you,’ it would be the most | | | | movements in which philanthropists, foundations and |
| powerful voting block in the country. It would be | | | | average individuals press both society and |
| overwhelming what kind of change could happen. | | | | government to increase funding and efficacy in |
| I am retired and need a new, bigger focus | | | | research. |
| outside my life besides sports, and it’s cancer. | | | | Now a 10-year survivor of metastatic testicular |
| I am not going away. It’s time to fight back. | | | | cancer, Armstrong says that his only reminder comes |
| It’s a significant time for research with | | | | when he runs his fingers across his scalp and feels |
| advances in the human genome and proteomics. | | | | the scars from the surgery where metastatic tumors |
| It’s a great time to do one thing right, and | | | | were removed from his brain. Indeed, on days at |
| that is to increase funding. Armstrong hammers | | | | home much of his time is spent parenting his three |
| home the number of preventable deaths from cancer | | | | children, Luke, 6, and twins Grace and Isabelle, 4, and |
| through early detection and better screening. Of | | | | enjoying the moments all parents enjoy, such as a |
| the almost 600,000 cancer deaths a year, 200,000 | | | | recent comment from a teacher praising Luke. |
| were preventable, he told the crowd. We | | | | You know your kids are special, he says, |
| have the technology to cure a lot of people right | | | | but when the teacher says so, it’s great. |
| now but it’s not happening. This is the easy | | | | |