Lance Armstrong – It’s not about the Bike – My Journey Back to Life
The book It’s not about the bike-My journey back to life, by Lance Armstrong reveals the adversity by the author who is an amazing bike racer; who fought against nonseminomatous testicular cancer and strived tough to win the championship of Tour de France.
“The truth is, if you asked me to choose between winning the Tour de France and cancer, I would choose cancer. Odd as it sounds, I would rather have the title of cancer survivor than winner of the Tour, because of what it has done for me as a human being, a man, a husband, a son and a father, says the racer after his glorious come back.
Lance says he did not know what fear is until he heard the words “You have cancer”. But it did not stop there, his body condition moved from bad to worse. Doctors finally said, he has to undergo a brain surgery and that has only 40% chance of survival, lance dint give up there either. People say if a man’s skull is open for once, it’s rigid to get back to normal life. Hearing all these as well, Lance was strong enough to accept whatever was written for him. With many things running in his mind, he just had one word clinging in his thoughts which is to “Move”
A person who reads this book will get to know more of medical terms and almost the whole thing about cancer and chemotherapy. One chapter thoroughly deals with difficulty which chemo causes and how pathetic a man’s physique gets spoiled. Lance, being a racer, had an urge to know what he is undergoing exactly, hence he collected many books which talks about cancer and its several stages. Readers would feel, it’s the end and nothing worse can happen to a person who wishes much success in his life.
The book clearly focuses on lance’s will power, courage, strength, determination; urge to be back on track and foremost about optimism. Millions in this world face problems, but the art of coming out of any crisis is being optimistic, Lance stands as a great example for being optimistic in his career and life. There where many disappointing reports which completely put him off, also many people who did the same such as sponsors, who thought Lance would die and it’s not of any good use in having his contract.
His come back includes effort of many others too, first being his mother who showed him what true champion is. His teammates Kevin, Frankie, George and others, Dr. Nichlos oncologist and a real angel LaTrice Haney oncology nurse. Kik, his wife who was supportive till he won the title. The list goes on and on.
The book almost completely covers a series of serious medical aspects from chemo to surgical procedures. Lance is frank and delightful on his relationship to wife Kristin (Kik), and goes into surprising detail about the technology that let them have a child.
Lance sees cancer as a part of life that is meant to improve us by making us focus on our difficulties with courage and indominability of spirit. Through his book, he completely relates to the reader and makes them feel what he underwent in those stages of 16 months. Any person who reads his book will surely have tears and makes them sit through his whole life in the form of a book. He compares his cancer and his bike racing, he says both are same, both relates to lungs, as his initial cancer affected his lungs and to be a world class champion lungs are most important to control the breath.
Lance says “I am happy with the way my career went and I am happy with the way it ended.” It shows how brave he was when he underwent his 16 months of torture. He also feels cancer was infact a best thing to happen in his life. He further says “It gave me a chance to re-evaluate my life and my career. Cancer certainly gives things a new perspective. I would not have won the Tour de France if I had not had cancer. It gave me new strength and focus.”
Almost everyone asked him not to look back to his career. They said, he would strain more and catch up with more complications. Lance was confident enough to say “Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”
Throughout the book Lance talks about self belief. He feels any person should believe to the maximum, there will be so many who dashes your hopes. Despite the consequences one should believe that he will be alright. More than doctors saying a patient will be alright, a patient must feel that he will overcome his illness. He says “Anything is possible. You can be told that you have a 90-percent chance or a 50-percent chance or a 1-percent chance, but you have to believe, and you have to fight.” These lines boosts up the reader and feel confident and positive.
The Book talks about passion and how to hold to your passion and struggle achieving it in anyway. Lance feels the whole of his life was carried away with a simple passion towards his racing career. Once he over came his problem he says “For me it was always a simple passion.”
The book is a complete inspiration for readers and also heightens confidence among cancer patients. Media houses such as Guardian says “Having nearly lost his life Lance Armstrong serves up his story for the rest of the world to wonder at shudder at and learn from” Scotsman says “Pure inspiration”
One of Lance’s appealing quote - “It's ironic; I used to ride my bike to make a living. Now I just want to live so that I can ride.”
His road to success was a difficult one, but hard work, perseverance, and lots of training helped him to achieve his dream. He had become one of the best, at the age of 25 and on top of the world. It’s a highly recommended book for those who live to aim and every chapter of the book makes the reader believe winning needs heart with full of confidence and courage to break all the barriers which lie on road to success.
