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Cancer Survivor Tredup Hitting the Road To Raise Awareness of Treatment Options

By Bill Alden

In December 2000, Jeffrey Tredup went to the hospital to have some thyroid goiters removed in what was supposed to be a routine surgery.

When he woke up a day later, a groggy Tredup learned that the one-hour procedure had turned into an eight-hour marathon operation after his doctors discovered he had thyroid cancer.

In dealing with the radical surgery in which his thyroid was removed and then undergoing iodine radiation treatment, Tredup's love of cycling has been a major ally in that battle.

"I had a 75-mile bike ride the Sunday before my operation," recalled Tredup, an avid cyclist who started riding with the Princeton Free Wheelers cycling club after moving to the area in the early 1990s.

"I think that helped my recovery. I was up and walking in two days. Going through the pain of a long bike ride helps develop physical toughness and a positive mental outlook."

This Sunday, Tredup will be hitting the road to ride in a charity bike event being held in conjunction with the Peloton Project, a grassroots fund-raising group associated with the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF).

The Peloton Project's objective is to raise awareness and funds in their communities to help the LAF support people affected by cancer through advocacy, research, education, and public health programs.

The event has a special significance since Tredup's professional life is devoted to battling cancer in his job as a research scientist at Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Tredup, 40, specializes in protein biochemistry, creating substances that may bind to a protein and stop cancers from growing.

"The Peloton Project is a good way to get information out to the public on cancer treatment," asserted Tredup, noting that the Lance Armstrong Foundation website, www.laf.org, serves as a source of such information.

"It's a good resource so people won't be as scared when they find out they have cancer or that someone close to them does. They need to know the options and what can be done."

In reflecting on his bout with cancer, Tredup emphasizes the value of having as much information about the disease as possible. "I remember when the doctor explained things to my wife and me," recalled Tredup.

"I said OK what do we have to do now. I had already researched thyroid cancer before my operation in case things turned out that way. I still have cancer in my lymph nodes. I get checked every six months and if my blood count numbers change, I'll have to go for more aggressive treatment. I've researched my options at a site called Clinicaltrials.com."

This fall, Tredup will be taking a more aggressive step in spreading information about cancer research when he participates in the Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope, a nine-day bicycle journey across the U.S. by a team of 24 people who have been touched by cancer.

More than 1,100 people applied to be part of the group, which is organized into teams of six that ride in relay fashion for about five hours a day from San Diego to Washington, D.C. from September 29 to October 8. Along the way, team members share their stories and inform people on the route about cancer research options. The event's website, www.tourofhope.org, provides further details on the riders and cancer research.

"I decided to pursue the Tour because I couldn't think of a better way to raise awareness," said Tredup, who hopes that his story and those of his colleagues on the ride will serve as motivation for people facing cancer.

"I was excited when I found out I had been chosen for the team. About a half-hour later, I thought what have I gotten myself into. I can do a century ride (100 miles) in one day but I never thought about doing a century ride for nine straight days."

In order to help condition them for their undertaking, Tredup and his fellow team members are participating in an individualized training regimen developed by Lance Armstrong's personal coach, Chris Carmichael.

"I've been working with the Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) program for about a month and I have noticed a difference," explained Tredup, who has also raced competitively for Hart's Cyclery in Pennington.

"I have never trained like that before. On a hard week, they have me on the bike for 15 hours. I do things like hill repeats and one-legged spinning. The easy weeks have about 10 hours on the bike."

For Tredup, it is fitting that he is riding in a major event that is affiliated with Armstrong's mission to help people better deal with cancer.

"Armstrong's example gives you a positive perspective on what you can come out with after finding out you have cancer," said Tredup. "I look at myself as a cyclist with cancer and I feel there's a connection with Armstrong."

Tredup's situation has deepened his connection to his daily work at Bristol-Myers Squibb. "Cancer has helped focus me in my research," said Tredup. "I'm hoping that if I can get the word out to my colleagues that will give them an extra oomph as they go about their work."

This Sunday, he will enjoy seeing riders giving an extra oomph at the Hopewell event as they have a choice of routes of 15, 35, and 65 miles.

"It's a good cause, I love to see people involved," said Tredup, who plans to ride the 65-mile loop at the event. "I would like to see more people out on the road biking; it is so good for you physically and mentally."

Cycling has certainly been good for Tredup as he has fought the battle of his life.