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Deanne's avatar
Deanne
Member
10 years ago

Step by step

To be honest I was never really that fit before I got bc. I did try from time to time but I never really saw myself as an athletic type of person. But during treatment I really noticed that exercise helped me in lots of ways, especially in coping emotionally with everything. I also learned that I was actually a lot stronger than I realised because I had to do and face some pretty tough times during treatment. 

So step by step I really have taken on much more physically since active treatment ended and hormone therapy started (tamoxifen and now Femara since I had my ovaries removed). I started walking short distances and worked my way up to being able to walk 20km with a loaded backpack. I started hiking hills, just little ones at first, then bigger ones. Then repeat climbs. Today I am so thrilled with my body. I ran up Mt Coolum (208m above sea level) and felt terrific. Not bad for a 50 year old who has been through a lot in the last 3 years.??

 

  • adean's avatar
    adean
    Member
    10 years ago

    You inspire me I've just got to get up and moving, I finding my blood cancer is kicking my arse but worse than the bc. I just am so fatigued I'm going to try and just go tommorow early and hopefully get some exercise in. Adean 

  • Deanne's avatar
    Deanne
    Member
    10 years ago

    Not with that pack, but a smaller one! This is the view from the top. I'm getting there with posting photos yay! ;)

  • Deanne's avatar
    Deanne
    Member
    10 years ago

    View from part way up. That's me with my pack on and my 'little' brother.

  • Deanne's avatar
    Deanne
    Member
    10 years ago

    Yes the view is excellent but strangely disorientating as things are not where I thought they should be in my mental map of the coast.

    Embarrassingly I grew up on the coast but have a very poor sense of direction, obviously ;). Old Woman Island actually confused me because it is much more north than I thought. As a child I was used to viewing it from the top of Alexandra Headland where it looks very different to what I see from Mt Coolum.

    I actually failed to reach the top of Mt Coolum when we were supposed to climb it when I was in High School!! So being able to run it today was pretty special!! I never imagined being able to do this let alone after I had had chemo etc.

    Good luck with your recovery when the time comes. It takes patience and little steps but hey, it's not as hard as chemo! Take care, Deanne xxx

  • Nadi's avatar
    Nadi
    Member
    10 years ago

    That is so fantastic Deanne! What an achievement and such an inspiration!! I really hope that I can start to get active once treatment is over, one step at a time. 

    I bet the view was great from Mount Coolum. My mum in law lives at Maroochydore and I've always been intrigued by what it must look like from the top!

    Well done and take care, Nadine