Janice Thomas Vinson - Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
Janice Thomas Vinson had no reason to believe she had cancer. An avid bicyclist, she rode 30 miles a day until flu-like symptoms slowed her down. "I went to get a blood test, and didn’t suspect anything when my doctor was reluctant to give me the results over the phone," she says. Time froze when the words "acute lymphocytic leukemia" came through the phone lines.
Because her leukemia was so advanced, Janice’s doctor had already made an appointment at M. D. Anderson. "I am so blessed that he knew to get me to M. D. Anderson as quickly as possible," she says. "Without immediate treatment, I would have died within a month."
Janice was immediately enrolled in a year-old chemotherapy trial. "I am walking testimony to research-based cancer care," she says. "My chances for survival went from 30% to 70%."
She spent six months at M. D. Anderson and says bicycling played a major part in her recovery. "I found an old exercise bicycle in the clinic and rode it every day," she says. Janice also had memorabilia from various bike rides adorning the walls of her room, along with pictures of her son and daughter. "Kids are the best incentive program in the world."