Attitude is Everything!

I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast cancer which had metastasized to my abdomen causing hydronephrosis in my kidneys as a result of narrowing in my ureters in June 2023. This was despite breast biopsies in the previous two years as a result of a suspicious lump in my left breast. The biopsies came back clear and so I thought all was well. My sister had just completed a rigorous treatment for Stage 2 breast cancer so we were obviously very cautious.

In May 2023 I started to feel uncomfortable in my abdomen and also suspected an upper abdominal hernia (which I still have) so I went to my GP who sent me off for a scan to confirm the hernia, and that is where the kidney damage and fluid in my abdomen (ascites) was discovered along with suspected pelvic disease. What people don’t tell you is that once you get on the cancer train it is a non-stop series of doctors and tests and needles and scans and MRI’s and repeating your story until they can diagnose your specific type of cancer and decide on a treatment plan.

Of course, I had already Googled Stage 4 breast cancer and read the prognosis: six months to five years survival depending on circumstances! What! How can that be possible when two weeks ago I had run 25km and was starting to feel great after an Achilles injury? I am a runner, a long distance runner to be more specific, with countless marathons to my name. I completed my ninth Comrades Marathon in 2022 with plans for Number 10 and the coveted Green Number in 2024 and yet I had just read I maybe had six months to live. No! That was not going to happen- I felt great and I was going to get the best medical help I could and carry on running, swimming and working as normal.

Cancer has other ideas- it hears it’s name and wakes up with a vengeance. Within a month of my diagnosis I had had eight litres of fluid drained from my abdomen caused by the cancer cells, had been fitted with kidney stents to drain my kidneys, learned that my kidneys were severely damaged and could not be repaired and was waiting for my medical aid to approve the treatment plan which my absolutely amazing oncologist had drawn up for me. I am very lucky- I am not eligible for any surgery, chemotherapy or radiation; but am on a new treatment involving CDK 4&6 inhibitors which, luckily for me, gives me no side effects but does put additional stress on my kidneys.

Meanwhile- two years later- I am still on the cancer train, and will be forever, but I am living life! In the two years there have been ups and downs in my health with some severe infections resulting in septic shock and hospitalisation, but I have found a good balance.

I can still run as long as I stay hydrated, I will probably never run long distances again but I have learned to appreciate and enjoy every kilometre. I run around 5km at least three times a week, swim around a kilometre twice a week and do strength and stretching two or three times a week.

Keeping active and doing what I love (even if it is at a much lower intensity) has kept me healthy and resilient and sane! Surrounding myself with positive people (runners are extremely positive people) and not allowing cancer to have power over my life has allowed my oncologist to remark that I have many good years ahead of me. The best thing about a good attitude is that it influences other people too. My husband, children, family and friends have the same outlook as me- let’s do life and enjoy it!

My message to everyone reading this is to go for regular medical checks, don’t be scared of a diagnosis, find the best doctors, keep healthy and active and surround yourself with positive people. Life is for living so let’s live!