Christopher Millard waited to see a doctor for more than a year after he discovered a lump on his shoulder. He is a well-educated biologist, and thought he knew what a cancerous tumor felt like. But when he finally had the lump looked at, he learned it was a high-grade sarcoma that required immediate and intense treatment.

Doctors told Christopher about a clinical trial and treatment for his cancer that showed a lot of promise. Christopher was taken aback by his cancer diagnosis and was further surprised to learn of the many clinical studies underway to treat it. “I wasn’t aware of how many clinical trials there were and that they were available for the general public,” he says. “I participated in one and it has made all the difference.”

Nevertheless, Christopher says he waited too long to see a doctor about the lump on his shoulder. His procrastination meant a longer and more involved treatment for a tumor that had grown from the size of a quarter to the size of a softball in the course of a year. As a member of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope™ Team, Christopher wants to encourage people to see their physicians immediately if they find a lump or experience any symptoms of cancer.

Christopher is very open about his cancer experience and takes the opportunity to promote early detection and the promise of cancer research. He welcomes questions from friends and acquaintances. “I always encourage folks to ask,” he says. “I want to get rid of the stigma associated with cancer. I want people to know it’s OK to talk about it and learn from it.”

As a cancer survivor, Christopher feels compelled to reach as many people as possible with his message. He’s been given a second chance and wants to return the favor by taking his story on the road with the Tour of Hope. “I hope that others will find strength, hope and knowledge in the Tour of Hope, and see me and my teammates as an inspiration.”