Jonsson Cancer Center Researcher Joins Lance Armstrong in Cross-Country Ride to Raise Awareness About Cancer Research
In her training to become an oncologist, UCLA hematology/oncology fellow Milana Dolezal sees firsthand how devastating cancer can be. She’s also been personally touched by the disease, losing her beloved grandmother — the woman who helped raise her — after a long and painful battle with breast cancer. So the 32-year-old Santa Monica resident and ardent athlete was thrilled to be chosen as one of 26 cyclists who will ride from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness about the importance of cancer clinical trials. Dolezal is one of two Californians riding in the Tour of Hope, a bike relay covering 3,200 miles led by five-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. She and the other riders were chosen from a field of nearly 1,000 applicants and all have been affected by cancer — they’re physicians, nurses, caregivers, researchers and, like Armstrong, cancer survivors. The relay, which kicks off in Los Angeles on Saturday, Oct. 11, seeks to inspire and inform the public about cancer research. That’s also a subject close to Dolezal’s heart. In addition to training to be a doctor, she also is a researcher at UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center. “I’ve seen patients live and die almost on a daily basis during my training as a cancer doctor,� said Dolezal, who competes in triathlons and is a member of numerous cycling and swimming clubs. “As cancer researchers, we’re beginning to understand the complex biology of cancer and are developing targeted therapies to halt tumor growth. The future of oncology holds so much promise and hope.� To fulfill that promise and hope, experimental cancer therapies must be tested on patients to ensure they’re both safe and effective. Nationwide, only about 2 percent to 3 percent of cancer patients enroll in clinical trials, according to the American Cancer Society. If that number is increased, new therapies could be tested and put on the market much more quickly. Half of all cancers cannot be successfully treated with conventional therapies, so the quest for new treatments is essential, said Judith C. Gasson, director of UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center. “Advances in technology and genetic research have scientists poised to develop new therapies to fight cancer more effectively,� said Gasson, a scientist and director of the lab in which Dolezal works. “Many of today’s most effective cancer therapies and interventions are the direct result of knowledge gained through clinical trials. These trials answer important scientific questions and suggest future research directions. They are vital to making progress against cancer.� Dolezal was raised in Bethesda, Md., by her mother, a music teacher, and her grandmother after her father died in an accident when she was eight years old. Dolezal later watched her grandmother battle breast cancer. “That’s when I realized she wasn’t invincible,� Dolezal said. “She saw me to college graduation, but then relapsed. It brings tears to my eyes that she had to suffer.� Dolezal is riding in the Tour of Hope in memory of her grandmother, and for all those who will be diagnosed with cancer in the future. “I’m elated to have this chance to raise awareness about cancer research,� Dolezal said. “It’s a marriage of my professional interests and my love of cycling. I can get out there and dispel the myths about research, spread the word about the importance of participating in studies.� An accomplished athlete, Dolezal has competed in six triathlons including two half-Iron Man competitions since spring. In addition to her busy work schedule, she cycles, runs or swims every day. Her weekdays start at 5:30 a.m. with a 30- to 40-mile ride. After treating patients and working in the lab, she often completes an evening workout as well, swimming for an hour or taking a 90-minute run. When she’s not on call, Dolezal starts each weekend day with a three- to five-hour ride, racking up 65 to 80 miles. “It makes me feel alive,� Dolezal said. “I deal with terminally ill patients and I know how fortunate I am to be able to do all this.� Tour of Hope team members will ride in a relay night and day as they make the seven-day trip across the country. Along the way, they’ll stop at cancer centers to spread their message about the importance of cancer research. The race route will take the cyclists through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. “The route is longer than the Tour de France, and we’re covering the distance in only one week,� said Armstrong, who won his fifth Tour de France in July, more than six years after being diagnosed with advanced cancer. “By accepting to train for and complete in this demanding ride, the team members have shown that they are driven to help those touched by cancer, and like me, they love a challenge.� Cycling enthusiasts and cancer survivors and their families are invited to help kick off the Tour of Hope by participating in a 62.5 mile/100 kilometer ride through the streets of Los Angeles. Departing from Universal CityWalk at 8 a.m. on Oct. 11, ride participants will cycle through the Hollywood Hills and past Hollywood’s famous movie studios as they send the official Tour of Hope team off on the first leg of their cross-country journey.