Studying probability and reading about a cancer patient’s journey, from almost certain death to life, is not very different. In both cases you are calculating hypothetical numbers based on ideal models, to ascertain the occurrence of an event. And ironically, the decisions based on these numbers can easily go wrong. So when the doctor told Lance Armstrong that he had a 40% chance of surviving cancer, the reality was that Lance could very well have been in the remaining 60%.
However, Lance Armstrong fought back from almost certain death and went on to win Tour de France twice. The doctor later admitted that in reality, he only had a 3% chance of survival! Well, for the uninitiated, Lance Armstrong is a famous cyclist. He caught cancer and subsequently made a sensational comeback by winning the Tour De France, considered the most grueling cycling competition, twice. The book “It is not about the Bike” is an autobiography of Lance which can inspire even the biggest nay-sayer of life to reconsider his/her perspective. The book is a must read for people trying to find meaning in life(I wonder who is not). Visit http://www.livestrong.org/ to know more about the foundation that Lance initiated to support cancer patients worldwide.
