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On Feb. 26, 2008, Lt. Col. Bryan Patchen, 603rd Air and Space Operations Center deputy commander for mission integration, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The next two months he endured his physical “low point,” as he underwent surgery and began treatment for the disease.
Now, four years later, Patchen commemorates this March and April with four events in four different countries, representing the physical strength and progress he has made.
“I was trying to figure what I could do to bring up awareness again, and I’ve done marathons, I’ve done triathlons, but I haven’t done anything crazy like four in two months,” said Patchen.
Patchen’s events included the half-marathon in Paris March 4, a full marathon in Rome March 18, another full marathon in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, April 15. His fourth event was a half-marathon along the famous German Wine Route, where he joined more than 3,200 runners April 22.
The two-month endeavor required dedication in training, as well as discipline during races because Patchen’s goal was not only to finish the individual event, but to finish all of the runs.
“It’s not just about this marathon, it’s about the next marathon as well,” he said he kept in mind during races. “This year when I did Rome, I actually carried a camera with me to force myself to slow down. I needed to keep thinking ‘I need to conserve and not burn myself out for the next one.’” His focus to enjoy the run allowed for a memorable highlight during one of the events.
“I was in Rome, I got to the 24-mile point and my family was waiting for me in this piazza that was there and I was able to grab two of my three kids and run with them. That was the highlight of that race – to run with my kids in a marathon.”
Patchen admitted there were some tough times while he ran the past 65 miles.
“There are points where you’re sitting there thinking ‘why am I doing this?’ and it hurts to walk, but that’s why having a cause for what you’re running for really helps.” Patchen’s cause stems from multiple inspirations and motivators, both internal and external.
“A friend of mine just found out that she had breast cancer, and that was my focus for one of my events — ‘I’m running for Kim on this one,’” said Patchen. “It lets you continue through pain a little bit more because you’re thinking of other people.”
Ultimately, Patchen was loyal to his commitment to bring awareness for the fight against cancer. “I wanted to finish, I wanted to tell everyone ‘hey I’m doing these events for LIVESTRONG.’”
Patchen discussed an important lesson learned that had inspired him. “It’s the obligation of the cured,” he said. “You’ve been treated, you’re through this, now it’s your responsibility to help others through it, and there are all sorts of ways for people to help.
“That’s really what I’m doing when I’m running. Every time I meet somebody who says ‘I just found out I have thyroid cancer or any other form of cancer — does it ever get any better?’ and I say ‘you know what — it does, and I can prove it because four years ago I went through this and now I’m running marathons and triathlons and doing all these things I never thought I would do.’”
Patchen also mentioned the importance of talking about experience and enduring through a cancer diagnosis.
“One of the things LIVESTRONG talks about is the stigma of cancer; you know, that people don’t want to talk about it because they’re afraid people will treat them differently,” he said. “I want to make sure people know I’m still functioning, I’m fine, I’m back, I’m deployable, I’m back on flying status – things I didn’t think were possible when I got the diagnosis. There’s a way forward.
“You hear that word (cancer), and it’s like the sky is falling. Then you read about other people who do things after they have cancer, that type or other types (of cancer), and it shows you that there is a future afterwards. “It doesn’t matter what the diagnosis is, it doesn’t matter how you’re feeling now,” he said. “It’s going to get better.”
Patchen was also selected as a LIVESTRONG leader, a volunteer position meant to help guide, counsel and aid those affected by a cancer diagnosis. For more information on Patchen’s cause, visit his webpage at http://laf.livestrong.org/goto/Bryan2012.
