/ 18 January 2006

Armstrong says cancer made him re-evaluate his life

The fight against cancer is the most important thing in Lance Armstrong’s life.

The legendary seven times winner of the Tour de France said on Wednesday if he had to choose between his personal battle with cancer, and winning the Tour de France, he would choose cancer.

”Without the illness I would never have been forced to re-evaluate my life and my career,” he said.

Cancer put a whole new perspective on everything.

”I know if I had not had cancer, I would not have won the Tour De France.”

Armstrong is in South Africa on a brief visit to support Adcock Ingram’s Unite 4 Health campaign which is a health and lifestyle programme aimed at disadvantaged communities.

”Always remain positive, believe you are going to be better and survive. Carry that thought with you all the time. Believe in what they do for you and have faith in the system,” said Armstrong.

He declined to say when he and rock singer Sheryl Crowe planned to marry.

”Planning a wedding is not easy,” he said.

”Sheryl’s a very busy person and there are all sorts of things that go into planning a wedding.”

Crow did not accompany Armstrong on his visit.

On his relationship with United States President George Bush, Armstrong said: ”He is very likeable when I’m around him, we just have basic conversation.”

”I do think he’s a good guy. His visions are not the world’s most popular and I certainly don’t always agree with him, but we do have one passion in common: cycling.” – Sapa