Father's Day Run at Mesothelioma: Floridian Larry Davis Competes in Triathlons

Larry Davis is scheduled for surgery June 27 at the University of Maryland's Greenbaum Cancer Center -- his fifth surgery since an original diagnosis of mesothelioma. The prospect of another dreaded hospital stay left him searching for a distraction. His daughter found just the right thing: Competing in a Father's Day Weekend Triathlon, which includes a 14-mile bike leg, a 5-kilometer run and a 600-yard swim. It isn't exactly the typical activity for a mesothelioma patient, but Davis is far from typical. He has lived much longer than expected. He has shunned many of the traditional treatments to fight his cancer, alienating some doctors along the way. He has worked tirelessly to promote mesothelioma awareness. What's more, his father died from the same cruel disease many years ago. "It (the triathlon with his daughter) is a Father's Day gift for both of us," Davis said from his home in Pompano Beach, Florida. "It's almost too good to be true, especially after everything I've put her through (since my diagnosis). It gets pretty emotional just talking about it." 5-year Mesothelioma Survivor Davis, 66, and daughter Courtney Davis, will be in Smithfield, North Carolina, this weekend for the triathlon. That's almost five years after his diagnosis, which left him with little hope, especially after a first surgery almost killed him. Mesothelioma, caused by an exposure to asbestos, usually comes with a life expectancy of six to 18 months. According to one recent study, only 7 percent...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Treatment & Doctors Source Type: news