Run for your life

“I had cancer but kept training”

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.’’

The trajectory of her life had completely altered in two hours.

Hickman, from Auckland, was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer, a form of cancer that tends to be more aggressive than other types of breast cancer.

Ten days after her diagnosis, she had a left-side mastectomy. In December, her other breast was also removed as a preventative measure.

In addition to the surgery, Hickman underwent 12 weeks of chemotherapy treatment from mid-May 2019.

‘‘Although there was no evidence of cancer cells after the surgery, this type of cancer is very aggressive so I still had to undergo chemotherapy as the cancer can spread very quickly,’’ she said.

Hickman had to take some time off from her job as director for Chartered Accounting firm Baker Tilly Staples Rodway during her treatment and was able to return to work part-time in August.

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 ‘‘pre-treatment 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 started 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.’’

Oncology physiotherapist

Because Hickman was already a very active and fit person, it was not difficult to motivate her to exercise throughout her cancer treatment, said Schmidt.

‘‘It was mentally demoralising for her not to be able to perform at the level she used to, so we had to come up with a plan that helped her regain her strength and push her to that upper level of running she was always able to do,’’ she said.

Hickman trained throughout her chemotherapy and in October she completed the Chicago Marathon.

Some of the side-effects of chemotherapy, such as nosebleeds, rashes and confusion, were hard to deal with, Hickman said.

But as soon as her running shoes hit the road, her energy returns.

‘‘Managing fatigue is one of the major reasons why cancer patients need to exercise while they are going through treatment,’’ said Schmidt.

‘‘Adhering to their exercise routine also helps them tolerate the 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.’’

The mental benefits of exercising are often just as great as the physical benefits.

‘‘Running helps me to stay positive and boosts my mood, but it has also helped me form really strong bonds with people around me,’’ said Hickman.

‘‘I haven’t been exercising alone. I always have my partner or a friend joining me for a run or a strength-training session and because of that, exercising has strengthened all these relationships in my life.’’

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 cancer-free, 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.

‘‘I think every cancer patient deals with their diagnosis in a different way. I have been quite open about my struggles and successes, while others might choose to keep it to themselves and that’s fine.

‘‘But I would definitely encourage other patients to reach out to medical support in terms of helping them get back to fitness and exercising, even if it is just doing a 15-minute walk.

‘‘I am convinced I would have felt a lot worse if I didn’t exercise. It has helped me so much with my wellbeing.

‘‘Running helps me feel normal.’’

‘‘Cancer patients should really be exercising from

that first appointment with their oncologist.’’ Megan Schmidt