Running from cancer to health
Long-distance runner Tracy Hickman kept up her training despite chemotherapy for breast cancer, writes Marine´ Lourens.
WHEN Tracy Hickman was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, she immediately knew she had a long road ahead of her – so she decided to run it.
In March last year, Hickman, 53, went for a routine annual mammogram.
‘‘I walked in there at 8:30am to have the mammogram and by the time I walked out at 10:30am they had done the mammogram, an ultrasound, a biopsy and already started talking about doing a mastectomy.’’
Hickman, from Auckland, was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer.
Ten days after her diagnosis, she had a left-side mastectomy and in December her other breast was also removed as a preventative measure.
As well as the surgery, she underwent 12 weeks of chemotherapy from mid-May 2019.
She had to take some time off from her job as director for Chartered Accounting firm Baker Tilly Staples Rodway during her treatment, but one thing she was never willing to sacrifice was her running.
‘‘When I was diagnosed, I was really upset to think I might not be able to run again,’’ she said.
‘‘I had been a long-distance runner for the past 10 years. I’ve run a marathon on seven continents, including Antarctica, and I’ve completed a 250km footrace in the Sahara desert called the Marathon Des Sables.’’
She ran her last ‘‘pretreatment race’’ two weeks before her surgery in March. And two weeks after her surgery, she was back on the road walking a 5km race.
‘‘I walked and I did it slowly, but I was so happy to finish,’’ she said.
While the chemotherapy left her tired and feeling sick, it was running that helped boost her energy levels.
She began working with Megan Schmidt, an oncology physiotherapist at Harbour Cancer Centre in Auckland.
‘‘Megan encouraged me to walk, but also helped me with a strength training programme to help me get moving. Within an hour of getting back home after having chemo, I would be doing my strength training and lifting weights.’’
Hickman trained throughout her chemotherapy and in October she completed the Chicago Marathon.
Schmidt says exercising helps patients tolerate chemotherapy better, boosts their immune system and can reduce the chance of the tumour returning by up to 40 per cent.
‘‘Cancer patients should really be exercising from that first appointment with their oncologist.’’
Hickman said the incredible support from her partner, Paul Qualtrough, as well as her family, friends, workplace and medical team have been a vital part of her cancer battle.
She is still undergoing treatment and although she has not been officially declared cancerfree, she gets regular checkups and keeps a close eye on any signs of cancer symptoms.
Hickman is now training to run the Boston Marathon in April and hopes to finish the Tokyo Marathon next year.