PROSTATE CANCER AND MY STP BIKE RIDE

Hello, this is my STP Seattle to Portland Bike ride story.

STP bike ride

In 2017 I was working and getting ready to retire so on my bucket list was going to try something crazy and do the STP in 2018, I had a year to prepare and get ready for the 206 mile bike ride. I started biking and I knew being in the Pacific NW it would be a challenge to stay in shape during the winter, so I took a couple of spinning classes and tried to get out as often as I could especially on cold days.

Spring finally arrived and I was able to get more bike ride's in. I was biking between 50 and 60 miles a every couple of days and was getting my legs in shape. I was ready for my GP checkup to make sure my body was up to the challenge. In April of 2018. I had my GP checkup and my Prostate checked and that's when my Doctor found a small lump. He asked me to have it checked and let's see if everything was ok just to be sure.

Getting diagnosed with prostate cancer

I went to a Urologist and he did a biopsy and then he gave me the bad news that I had a high Gleason score and that's when he told me that I had Prostate cancer. It was an aggressive form and that I needed to make a decision to have surgery or radiation. I talked it over with my wife and opted for the Radical prostatectomy surgery. Needless to say I couldn't do the STP.

Going for the STP ride again

So for the Next 5 yrs after the surgery and radiation treatment, I'm doing fine. I talked to my Doctors and told them about my story about the STP and they all told me to go ahead and do it. It's not to late to do it. So after 5 yrs I decided to give it another try. So in December of 2022, I started training again. I didn't quite get to 50 or 60 miles a day like before, but I was doing around 20 to 40 miles a day. The STP bike ride was on July 15th and 16 of 2023. I did it, it took me 5 yrs since my Prostate Cancer diagnosis. I was so proud of myself for finally getting this done.

As a Prostate cancer warrior and survivor, this was a great milestone for me. I would like to thank my Doctors both in Portland and Seattle, my friends at West Portland Physical Therapy who've kept my hand and shoulders in shape. My wife Shelley who supported me and has been my rock since we've been married. To my fellow Prostate Cancer brothers never give up because you can still live a great life.
Thank you for reading my story,
Tomas