How far can I take this?

While I certainly wish that I had never had Breast Cancer, I have to say that it is because I did that I am now blessed with an amazing opportunity. All through treatment and recovery I have been determined to help myself cope and recover to the best of my ability. For the next 3 months I am going to be pushing to see just how far I can take my recovery. My goal is to trek to Mt Everest Base Camp in April/May (it will be my 2 year anniversary since diagnosis on this trek) as part of a Queensland Cancer Council Charity Challenge. If someone had told me 2 years ago that I would be trying to do this I honestly would have just laughed. But since then I have been through a diagnosis and treatment for Breast Cancer and I have learnt that anything is possible if you just keep an open mind and take it one step at a time. I want to do this to regain the confidence in my body and my ability to do what I set my mind to do. I don't want to let the fear of recurrence limit the rest of my life. Already with just a couple of weeks of early training under my belt I am feeling an amazing strength emerging and it feels SO GOOD to have my body respond positively to the extra demands I have put on it. I can only imagine the feelings if I make it all the way to Base Camp. I want to do this because cancer is something I REALLY, REALLY want to do something about. I have met so many lovely people (many of them on here) who are facing challenges far greater than trekking to Base Camp because of this awful disease. How impossibly difficult it must be to have a child face this disease. As we all know this disease can make you feel helpless, as though you have no control. I want to feel that I can have some control. That I can help to raise awareness and money to help someone else. The Cancer Council works to educate people and prevent cancer where possible, help those who are diagnosed and also funds research into finding better ways of preventing, treating and curing cancer. This is my way of helping out and working towards a cure for more people. I have a long way to go but I'm going to give it my best try. There are some unknowns along the way but I just have to keep an open mind and take it one step at a time. You don't know till you try and I have some absolutely amazing people helping me try this. If I achieve this it will because of another thing having cancer has taught me - we need to let others help us. Oh, by the way, I have one of the very best people helping me. Her name is Sharon Cohrs. Sharon was diagnosed with BC at 36. She had a double mastectomy, axillary clearance, chemo and reconstruction. 9 months after finishing chemo, 3 months after recon, she returned to climbing mountains. 4 years later she became the first breast cancer survivor to reach the summit of Mt Everest If she can do that I should be able to get myself to the base of Mt Everest! Sharon and her fantastic husband Allan will be by my side as I put one foot in front of the other to see how far I can push myself! Keep an open mind about recovery, anything is possible! Deanne xxx

22 Replies

Janet_A
Member
11 years ago
Definitely going to be checking the site for your progress.

You have been so supportive to us all through our personal journey, always a good word of encouragement for us, thank you xxx

I have no doubt about your progress, we seem to find a determination we thought we never had, well I have! Planning so many things that probably wouldn't have thought of if I wasn't diagnosed. Focused on things that are important, that is why I don't doubt that we will be reading about your arrival on the top!

All the best to you xxxx
Janet_A
Member
11 years ago
Definitely going to be checking the site for your progress.

You have been so supportive to us all through our personal journey, always a good word of encouragement for us, thank you xxx

I have no doubt about your progress, we seem to find a determination we thought we never had, well I have! Planning so many things that probably wouldn't have thought of if I wasn't diagnosed. Focused on things that are important, that is why I don't doubt that we will be reading about your arrival on the top!

All the best to you xxxx
Rosanna
Member
11 years ago
Thanks Robyn
Rosanna
Member
11 years ago
Thank you
Deanne
Member
11 years ago
Wow your niece must have a real sense of achievement from that! I think we all search for a way to feel better about things after cancer knocks us off our feet. I think I have the strength to try this challenge (I have NEVER done anything like this before) because I' m pretty sure that nothing about it will actually be as hard as what we go through with treatment. Apparently you get headaches and some nausea from the altitude for a day or 2. The thought of that somehow doesn't phase me after all the side effects of treatment that went on for way longer than a day or 2! I think achieving the level of fitness that I will need to get to Base Camp will help me to have faith in this body of mine again. That will be SO worth it for me! Hope you are feeling better. Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know about your neice. Girl power!
Robyn_W
Member
11 years ago
Congratulations Rosanna:):): xxxRobyn
Deanne
Member
11 years ago
That's wonderful Rosanna that you have achieved your new goal. I think having cancer or any life changing illness or challenge can make us want something more out of life. If you have something you want to do I think the strength that we gain from going through treatment can allow us to achieve anything we set our minds to. For each of us that will be different but it's great to be able to share those achievements on here.

I hope 2015 is a great year for you. Congratulations on your new qualification. Deanne xxx
Deanne
Member
11 years ago
Getting to know Sharon has been very inspiring and she sees herself as just doing what she can to help raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. To date she has raised over $250 000. She was only 36 when diagnosed so her message is particularly important for younger women who may think that they could not possibly have breast cancer and not get changes checked out. She and her husband do a lot of work with public speaking in the community, both inspiring people to follow their dreams but also spreading awareness about cancer. Sharon's Dad died of pancreatic cancer 4 months after she climbed Mt Everest.

It is because of people like Sharon sharing their stories and also using their particular abilities to raise awareness and money that there is more money to help improve things for all of us. Being diagnosed with any form of cancer causes you to lose confidence in your body and your health. I am fortunate to be in a position to be able to do this trek for my own personal reasons and also to help people realise that it is possible to feel strong and healthy again after cancer. Raising funds for cancer prevention, support and research is also helping me to feel we can have some power over cancer.

It is because of people doing things like this in the past that we have seen the improvement in cancer survival for many people over the last 20 years or so. If my Mum had been diagnosed with my Stage and type of cancer when she was the same age as I was when diagnosed, her chance of survival would have been about 40%. Mine is 81% thanks mostly to tamoxifen.

It is the thought that these sorts of improvements can be made that has encouraged me to do this. I lost a friend last year to bowel cancer (she was only 49, a wonderful teacher, friend, wife and a Mum to a very devestated 16 year old son). I have another friend who found out 2 weeks before he was to be married that he has Stage 4 Melanoma. He is 27 and expecting his first child in April (when I will be attempting the trek). Cancer kills terrific people every day and it is the thought that maybe I can do something to help, even in a small way, that has me willing to try my hardest.

Deanne xxx
Steph_Fletcher
Member
11 years ago
Thank you for sharing this post, it is very inspiring to hear about your experience. The team here at BCNA are rallying for you and we wish you all the best for your training! I have heard from many women now, that a diagnosis can cause you to lose confidence in your body. As it sounds as though you have discovered (well and truly :) ) physical activity at your own pace, within your own limits and with guidance from your health professionals can really help you to gain that confidence and control back. I am so thrilled for you Deanne, thanks for sharing and keep up the great work!X
Steph_Fletcher
Member
11 years ago
Thank you for sharing this post, it is very inspiring to hear about your experience. The team here at BCNA are rallying for you and we wish you all the best for your training! I have heard from many women now, that a diagnosis can cause you to lose confidence in your body. As it sounds as though you have discovered (well and truly :) ) physical activity at your own pace, within your own limits and with guidance from your health professionals can really help you to gain that confidence and control back. I am so thrilled for you Deanne, thanks for sharing and keep up the great work!X