ARMSTRONG ALTERED FOCUS DURING HIS BOUT WITH CANCER.

Byline: Associated Press 

Lance Armstrong had planned to be in Italy, riding with his new French cycling team as a favorite to win the Milan-San Remo road race, and preparing for the Tour DuPont and Tour de France.

That was before America's premier cyclist was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Now, the only race on his mind this weekend is today's charity ride in Austin for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which raises money for cancer awareness.

``My life was dominated by cycling,'' said Armstrong, the 1993 world road race cycling champion, a two-time Tour de France stage winner and two-time Tour DuPont champ.

``Now, the foundation and the charity work and helping others are an equally important part. The rest of my life will be devoted to cancer awareness.''

Armstrong, 25, completed 12 weeks of chemotherapy in December and doctors say the cancer is disappearing, although it will take at least a year to determine if it is in remission. Doctors recently gave him the OK to ride as vigorously as he wanted, and he said he plans to resume racing in the summer.

When he was diagnosed with cancer in October, Armstrong was one of the world's best in one-day road races, and was beginning to blossom in the more grueling stage races, with his victories in the Tour DuPont. He was being groomed to challenge for the Tour de France in the next two to three years.

But those career goals, once an obsession, have changed.

``Winning the Tour de France was very much on my mind. Now, I realize it's most likely impossible,'' Armstrong said.

``I think I can be competitive again in one-day races, but in a race that is three weeks long and is as competitive as the Tour de France, I think that a rigorous cycle of chemotherapy would have an affect on my potential.''

Armstrong was preparing for the world road championship last year when his life changed forever.

He had felt pain and swelling in one of his testicles for weeks and had even spit up blood. But as a world-class athlete who constantly dealt with nagging injuries, he shrugged it off.

Finally, the pain became unbearable, and he went to a doctor.

Testicular cancer is considered one of the most curable cancers, but Armstrong's was so advanced that it had spread to his lungs.

He had the testicle removed and three weeks later learned that the cancer had reached his brain, requiring more surgery. In such cases, doctors typically give the patient a 50-50 chance.

``When they said I had brain lesions, emotionally, that was the lowest I felt. That was rock bottom,'' Armstrong said.

With his mother, Linda Waller, by his side, he had to deal with the devastating effects of chemotherapy.

``It would make the worst climb in the Alps seem flat,'' said Armstrong, whose light brown hair only recently grew back. ``It's just such a miserable experience and makes you so physically ill.''

Dr. J. Dudley Youman, Armstrong's cancer specialist, said that because the cyclist was in such good physical condition, ``he has tolerated this very difficult chemotherapy better than anyone I've ever seen.''

Armstrong decided from the start to go public with his cancer fight in hopes that young men nationwide would conduct self-examinations for early detection of the disease.

The outpouring of support ``was surprising and overwhelming,'' said Armstrong, who received calls and letters from riders and cycling teams from around the world.

A get-well card arrived from three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, who retired from the sport due to a rare muscular disease. And a November exhibition ride with Eddie Merckx, a five-time winner of the Tour de France in the 1970s, also helped pull Armstrong out of his doldrums.

``That was awesome,'' he said.

Armstrong quit school and turned professional as a triathlete when he was 16, and ever since had lived a regimented life dictated by eating, training and racing schedules.

A day without riding put Armstrong in a crabby funk.

``I enjoyed the disciplined lifestyle. I didn't have much patience with my career,'' he said. ``I was ready to be successful and get all the things that come with those accomplishments.''

Those things include his new art-filled, $1 million waterfront home, a Porsche, a speed boat and a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

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Photo: Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer in October. Having completing chemotherapy, he plans to return to racing.

Daily News File Photo