Rarin’ to run full throttle
Published 9:00 pm Friday, July 16, 2004
MONROE – After he crossed the finish line at the inaugural NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway in California last November, Austin Cameron called it the biggest win of his career.
But in relation to his fight against cancer that started months before – a fight that continues today – his victory took a decided backseat.
“I call it the best and worst year of my life,” said Cameron, 27, a native of El Cajon, Calif., and participant in tonight’s Coors Light 200.
“There were some pretty rough speed bumps.”
Early in 2003, Cameron had had trouble breathing and developed a troublesome cough. His fiance, Rachelle Brown, urged him to see a doctor.
“I said, ‘I’m not going to any hospital; I’m not going anywhere,’” Cameron said.
Luckily for him, Brown prevailed.
In an April examination, doctors discovered an enlarged lymph node in Cameron’s chest, larger than a man’s fist. The diagnosis: inoperable non-Hodgkins lymphoblastic precursor lymphoma.
“I said, ‘Not me, I’m too young,’” Cameron said. “But as it turned out, I had no use of my left lung. And it was pinching off my esophagus and trachea. That’s why I had that terrible cough. I couldn’t breathe right.
“So it all made sense.”
A further examination determined the cancer had not spread to his bone marrow or spinal fluid.
Cameron immediately underwent a two-year chemotherapy program. He lost 35 pounds, but still had enough energy to joke that his car owner, Bill McAnally, would have to shell out the dough to find a smaller car seat for him.
Just as shocked was his race team, which had come to look at Cameron as indestructible. Although Cameron had never won a points race, he annually was a force in the NASCAR West Series, finishing third in the 2001 and 2002 points races. With his skill, good looks and bubbly personality, Cameron was a lock for a fulltime Nextel Cup ride.
Now this.
“It was devastating, all that Austin had to go through,” McAnally said. “It was a trying year, with all the hurdles we went through as a team.”
Cameron missed four races last season while dealing with the effects of the first phase of chemotherapy. While the sessions reduced the node to normal size, Cameron continues oral chemotherapy, which creates fatigue and mouth sores, but doesn’t have the exhausting effect he formally went through.
Still, he’s not out of the woods.
“I feel 100 percent right now, in my mind and body,” Cameron said. “It’s a very rare type of cancer that has a high percentage of coming back in the form of either brain cancer or bone cancer. But it’s in remission right now. They can’t detect it.”
The oral chemo does, however, weaken Cameron one or two days a week. Still, he can time the intake so that he is strong enough to race.
“I can get it all over with Sunday and Monday,” Cameron said. “I just feel worn out those two days. It messes with your body’s radiator. You’re hot, then you’re cold. Then there are those stupid little mouth sores. But it’s nothing that we can’t deal with.”
Known as one of the good guys on the series – one very popular with fans – Cameron’s plight was followed by racingwest.com, which published periodic updates of his progress. It also designed a message board, which hundreds of fans used to send encouraging words. Cameron’s mother and aunt read the comments to Cameron because he was too weak to roll out of bed.
Cameron printed the messages. It took 30 pages.
Which made him think.
“It’s changed me in a big way,” Cameron said. “It’s made me realize a lot of priorities in life. I’m taking time to smell the roses. You realize that anyone can take anything away from you at any point in your life. You have to cherish and be thankful for the things you have. I feel I have a better, more productive life now.”
Cameron appears healthy. The muscle has largely returned, as has his hair.
“I got my first haircut three weeks ago,” he smiled. “It’s downhill from here, baby.”
If that’s not a great omen, what is?
