Watching my hair grow is like watching paint dry

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Posted by Jen Hanks at 3:58 PM

Jen Hanks: I have raced as a professional mountain biker since 2006. On January 25, 2011, at the age of 35, I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer (Grade 3, ER/PR+, Her2-). I was scared. I didn't know any young women, let alone athletes, who had ever had breast cancer. Prior to cancer, my proudest cycling achievements are finishing 7th at the TransAlp Challenge in 2007, Utah State Champion-Pro 2007, Breck Epic 3rd overall 2009, and 2nd overall Lumberjack 100 in 2010. In 2012, after 4 surgeries and 4 months of chemo, I returned to mountain bike racing determined to compete at an elite level. With a mantra of being kind to my body and making no excuses, a new emphasis on nutrition, and a large dose of determination, I competed in over 25 mountain bike races and was able to finish the season as the Utah State Championship Series overall Pro Women winner. In 2013 after a strong start to the race season, the unthinkable happened. I was diagnosed with an axillary recurrence which means 3 lymph nodes in my arm pit were found to have cancer. After more surgery, chemo, radiation, and an oophorectomy, I am officially in remission and am chasing dreams for comeback #2!

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