Forum Discussion
Cancer and mountains
I know much of the time during treatment, I felt like I had a mountain to climb or at least some large hills to hurdle. But somehow, like most of us do, I finally found my way over most of them (often with a bit of help from the ladies on here!).
Treatment ended (and hormone therapy began) and I set about finding the best way to help myself recover and heal. Healing involves so much more than just the physical side. I had to find a way to live with the chance of recurrence, a way to feel confident enough to set life goals again, a way to heal the hurt that cancer had caused to myself and my relationships with others and so much more.
Some of you may remember that I set myself a pretty large goal early in 2015 (just over 12 months after finishing treatment). I was off to tackle the biggest mountain I could, I was going to trek to Everest Base Camp and raise money to help others facing a cancer diagnosis.
Well, once again Mother Nature showed me that our lives can change in the blink of an eye. While my wonderfully supportive husband and I were flying to Bangkok (and then would have gone on to Kathmandu for the trek) a massive earthquake struck Nepal and the lives of thousands were lost and thousands more changed forever.
Since then we have overcome or dealt with a few more hurdles. We were unsuccessful in our travel insurance claim for the airfares as we had commenced our flight before the earthquake. As far as the insurance company was concerned we had taken the flight so were technically not 'out of pocket' for this part of our travel. We had 'received the service we had paid for'. That was hard. A lot to pay for one night in Bangkok!
Then after experiencing heavy bleeding I made the decision to have my ovaries removed and change from Tamoxifen to Femara. A month into Femara I began to experience greatly increased pain from pre-existing mild osteoarthritis. This became so bad that my GP referred me for a bone scan to rule out a stress fracture. No stress fracture and no cancer recurrence thank goodness.
Then my husband experienced two bouts of an inflammatory eye condition that he has had on and off for 23 years. The second has left permanent damage to his left eye.
But, call us stubborn, call us crazy, we have never given up on that dream of trekking to Everest Base Camp. We kept training whenever we could. We found stress release in the hours spent hiking hills together and knew that the exercise and fitness helped us to cope with everything life continues to challenge us with.
In just one weeks time (baring any other unforeseen hurdles) we will board a plane (possibly even the same one as last year!) and try once again to achieve our goal. I don't know if we will make it all the way but I know that we will give it our very best effort. They say it is more mental determination than physical strength that counts in this challenge. We might just get there then ??.
You just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you never know where you can get to. Will let you know if we make it. Deanne xxx
13 Replies
Hi Deanne:) You really are amazing! I'm thinking of you and I hope that all goes well .CheersRobyn xox
Hi Deanne - yes I will have my fingers crossed for Sharon! Goodness we just don't know what is around the corner as it would seem we are in the hands of the health gods at present.
Wishing you Deanne all the best for your trek, if it is going ahead, and if not it maybe, as the saying goes, a case of 3rd time lucky!
Take care, keeping training and have a wonderful trek and most importantly stay safe.
Warm regards
Christine xx
I hope you have a great safe trip i am sure you will enjoy every minute of your holiday.
Eileen xx
Oh Deanne, so sorry to hear about Sharon, I know how much she has inspired you. She is one amazing lady. I heard her speak at a "girls night in" at my daughters school last year. If it is meant to be, you will trek. If it is not then you will do it another time, I have no doubt about that.
I really hope she is ok.
Hugs to you another inspiring soul.
Paula xxx
Oh Deanne, I really hope this trip happens for you one day! It's one of my goals too, so I'd dearly love to read your updates about what it's like for you while I go through treatment. My treatment starts in a few weeks...
I have everything crossed for Sharon.
I believe that if the trip is meant to be this time, it will happen. What a wonderful adventure!
Inspirational. Follow your dream.
Thoughts will be with Sharon as she faces new health issues.
I hope you have a fantastic time,
Lyn
I am so sad to write this. No sooner had I posted this than I received a phone call with some awful news about our trek. The trek was to be lead by a wonderful and very inspiring lady, Sharon Cohrs. Sharon and her husband Allan summited Mt Everest in 2011, 4 years after Sharon was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36.
Sharon has developed some serious health issues and will not be able to undertake the trek. At the moment the trek will still go ahead with Allan leading the way but Sharon will need treatment as soon as she is well enough to travel back to Brisbane. Nothing is more important than that Sharon has all the support and medical treatment she needs. The next week will bring more information.
I know that Sharon will want us to still do the trek if at all possible. So we pack and we see how this goes. Hoping Sharon will be ok. She is such a wonderful person, one of the strongest and positive people I have ever met. Please keep your fingers crossed for her.
Deanne xxx
Fantastic news i'm so happy you get the chance to go, I have my toes and fingers crossed that all goes well for you both. You h,ave already won, nothing better than being cancer free. Sending you both a hugxxx
PS Keep me posted on if you get any altitude sickness, which I hope you don't. My daughter is doing a biology assignment on the body systems and how they are affected by altitude, It would be good to include an up to date case study ;)
Seriously though, I am so happy for you.
Paula xxxx
Woohoo, Good for you Deanne, I hadn't realised you were going again.
All the best, keep us posted.
Paula xxxx
