Getting Started

Hi. My name is Scott Foraker. I am a cancer survivor. I have the honor and pleasure of helping to raise cancer awareness by participating as the Breakaway from Cancer rider in the Solvang Race of Truth associated with the Amgen Tour of California. I hope that this will start an annual tradition and that I will be the first of many cancer survivors to participate in this event. I would like to thank the City of Solvang/Solvang LOC, Breakaway from Cancer and Amgen for asking me to participate.

Here is a short description of my cancer experience: Five years ago at age 42 I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgins lymphoma. Although I did not have many of the typical symptoms (mine were limited primarily to bloating of the stomach), my diagnosis was bad – stage four. I had cancer cells in many lymph nodes throughout my body and many lymph nodes were 3-6 times the normal size. The spleen acts as sort of a giant lymph node and mine was twice the size it should have been. 36% of my bone marrow was compromised and consisted of cancer cells. When I first consulted with my lymphoma specialist doctor at USC Norris Institute, I packed my bags thinking that I may never come home. Since my diagnosis was so bad, I had to immediately start the most aggressive therapy possible. From January to June 2004, approximately every three weeks I had the highest tolerable doses of a chemotherapy regimen called CHOP and a biologic drug called Rituxan. Throughout my treatment, I exercised every day. Following my 4th cycle in April 2004, I was tested for the first time following my diagnosis. The scans came back without any sign of cancer cells. This is what is known as a complete response and my cancer was in remission. This was a miracle considering how much disease I had when diagnosed. My doctor said that my chances of such as outcome were less than 15%. After completing therapy, for three years thereafter I did Rituxan maintenance therapy every 6 months for the first two years and then once in the third year. The cancer continues to be in remission and I have been healthy and strong since mid-2004. I continue to be tested every 6 months. I will be tested again later this month. I feel very fortunate and blessed to have made a miracle comeback. I am extremely grateful and thankful to God, my family and friends, the caring doctors and caregivers at USC Norris Cancer Institute and Amgen, my employer and sponsor for the Amgen Tour of California, for providing support as well the drug (Neupogen) that helped fight serious infections while I was undergoing chemotherapy.

In 2005 I fell in love with cycling while training for my first century ride with Team in Training to help support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Now I am mostly thrilled to participate in the Solvang Race of Truth, although part of me wonders what I got myself into since I have never participated in a time trial. Time to step up my training!