As we near the end of 2012

With the end of 2012 coming, I want to re-cap the year, the up, the down's, the successes, the failures, the plans in the pipeline and what achievements I hope will happen in 2013...for War on Cancer as well as myself personally.

Before that, here's a photo of Autumn - one of my favourite seasons, you cannot beat the autumnal colours of the leaves. Those days where there's a chill in the air, but it's still good enough to get out and wander.

Healthwise 2012 has been a mixed bag for me again. I started the year still taking my cancer prevention drug Letrozole. The problems that I had at the end of 2012 carried over into the New Year, as the first quarter of the year got under way, my health and mobility deteriorated. I was at this point ( as a lot of you are aware ) struggling to get out of bed unaided, struggling to dress myself even while sitting down. The joint stiffness and swelling were very hard to bare, added to the bone and muscle pain, this made life very difficult.These issues were on top of all the other side effects I was struggling with. I was so very frustrated, unable to get to the gym, unable to move myself forward, in fact I was sliding ever further backwards.

 I finally had a consult with the Rheumatologist the back end of March where she confirmed that a lot of the problems were indeed being caused by the Letrozole ( the breast clinic doctors had said it wouldn't be the drug causing my bone, joint and muscle problems ). So this was the final piece of information I had been waiting for, I had been thinking long and hard about stopping the cancer prevention drug for up to 12 months. This consult made up my mind. I could in no way carry on like that for a further 3 years which is how long I still had to go with the Letrozole.

Now I had made my final decision I felt a weight come off my shoulders, it had been a very difficult decision to make, no doubt the right one for me, I couldn't have lived like that, I always said it's all about the quality of life, not the quantity. The conversations I had with the medical profession were lively shall I say at times. It is a massive risk I've taken, but if my life is only to be extended by 5 years for example through the drugs.....well it was 5 wasted years.....what is the point of extending your life by 5 years if you cannot do anything and are poorly for the whole of it.

 I know and understand the risks to myself from my decision - but everyday I get better, everyday I do something creative, fulfilling validates my decision. I am a million miles from where I want to be....but that is much closer than it was this March. Many issues I was having have been settling down over the months, the joint stiffness and pain is now manageable with painkillers, a vast improvement from before. My mobility is much better and I have been back in the gym on and off this year. The biggest issue I have is the ongoing problem with my lower pelvic area. I carried into this year these problems and will exit the year with them too. I have been seeing my consultant a lot this year. My issues are with UTI's, kidneys infections, lower back pain etc. I've had a couple of procedures done in July this year, which didn't solve my problems. I will be having another day surgery in Jan 2013...fingers crossed this solves it once and for all. I will have been on antibiotics for approx 11 months solid and my biggest worry is more for the long term....I, as many know pick up almost everything that's going around ( my immune system never really recovered from the chemo etc ) and after long use of the antibiotics, it may reduce the choices available to infections in the future. My body is already finding that some antibiotics are ineffectual. So lets hope I don't need to have any more doses for a very long time.

So War on Cancer has had a good year, the first annual endurance sponsored challenge was a huge success - thank you to everyone who took part!....I look forward to seeing you on the 2013 sponsored challenge, and hope we make some new friends who get has passionate about it as we all are!

I unfortunately didn't and couldn't complete the Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge, I was very unwell coming down from the summit of Whernside and was in no fit state to carry on. I actually didn't stop vomiting until 4 pm that day....my big brother Graham reckoned I'd single handedly irrigated the Yorkshire Dales that day. It was a wonderful day made even better by the fantastic family & friends who took on this really tough challenge. I was totally overwhelmed by you all, and thank you for doing it, whether to challenge yourselves or as in most cases a mixture of that and supporting my cause.

Based on what happened at the 3 Peak challenge it was with a heavy heart I had to admit to myself I was in no way going to be able to do Mt. Kilimanjaro this year. I took that pretty bad at the time, and it's only with reflection I can accept it was a really big ask of myself to be ready to climb the world's tallest free standing mountain months after hardly being able to dress myself. Even my motivation and determination weren't going to get me to the "Roof of Africa" in 2012.

This year has seen family and friends fighting the fight against cancer....for those who finished their invasive treatments and those who are still having them - I want to say how truly wonderful you all are....I say to anyone who asks me....the cancer family is one no-one wants to belong to....but if you become part of it, there will never be anywhere that supports and understands you more. Keep fighting - it's what we all do best. For friends who fought courageously to the end but didn't make it, I say you never gave up and that's what's important. You are and will be sadly missed...but will never be forgotten. Always in our hearts.

I caught up with friends I had not seen in a long time - I loved my mad crazy week with Merryn, showing her around the North of England....letting her get a taste of Yorkshire and some surrounding counties as we did a whirlwind tour of everything Mr Darcy! - I think she'll be back to visit in the future.

The joys of Facebook saw me catch up with some old school chums who I hadn't seen or heard of in 30 years!....this is social media at it's most positive best! Some of my old school pals I had gone to school with at 4 years old and other at 9.....it has being the best time, catching up on each others lives. I cannot describe what fun I've had with all this!....it's so nice when social media is used for the good and not some poor  excuse at flirting and cheating on supposed loved ones. It is a very sad fact of life that individuals think that kind of poor behaviour is acceptable and that it's not really cheating....because you don't actually meet up with them....erm yes it is cheating in the fullest...it's only because geographically it may be impossible to meet up - the intent is still there.

I entered a new chapter of my life earlier this year, I started 2 part-time college courses ( both going really well )...I've been doing a work placement at the Bradford Bulls which is great fun. This after the end of my 14 year relationship.....it's all change about. A new me and a new future - onwards and upwards.

As always the year end lets many of us reflect over the previous year, many of us look toward the new year with personal challenges, plans and goals we set ourselves. So this is my 2013....

I will announce next month War on Cancer's sponsored annual endurance challenge event for 2013 - I hope to see a return to last years team...and I hope many new faces too! - I said it this year ( yikes )...but really want to move WoC forward in 2013......if you did the challenge and enjoyed it, please come join in 2013 and bring some friends to do the challenge with you! - this will be Spring bank weekend 2013.

I've not given up on a indoor wall climb challenge and will eventually wear you all down so you agree to do it! - I plan on trying to do my bit....and I really have poor upper body strength these days because of the amount of chest muscle I had cut away.....but I want to be part of a wall climb challenge....come help me out!

Mt.Kilimanjaro beckons me to complete the challenge I set myself back in 2010 while recovering from my chemo....this will be Sept/Oct time....help raising sponsorship will be gratefully accepted for this and all events of course!

And my final endurance challenge for 2013 will be with friends as we power walk the New York Marathon 2013 ( if we can secure places ) in November. This will not be for WoC...but Walk the Walk uniting against breast cancer charity.....the same charity we did the London Moonwalk for in 2011.

So after my day surgery in January - hopefully this will end my set backs and then I can concentrate on getting fit and building up my stamina once more....anyone wanting to come join me is more than welcome. 2013 is going to be a very exciting year and I look forward to sharing it with you.

My bucket list never gets shorter and if any of yours do.....I'd question what you are doing wrong! - I'm very fortunate that some of you want to come along and join me in some of my challenges and I hope to see you on more.

Remember Life is for living....Life life, No regrets!

Until next time
Tracy

Indoor climbing sponsored challenge - fancy it?

Hello everyone

It's been quite a while since I posted, sorry for that, but between courses and infections time has passed me by!

So not much response on the indoor endurance sponsored climbing event I mentioned - not sure if this is because you think it would be too hard, don't think it's a good idea, or keep thinking, I must get back about that one! I really like the idea of it, but cannot organise it for a team of one!

So the idea is, we get a team of enthusiastic people together who want a great challenge to get the blood pumping and can spare a day to do it. We actively try and involve the local papers/radio to get War on Cancer out there and gain some followers and sponsor pledges. We the "climbing team" - then set about climbing the equivalent height of Mt.Everest - this will be a tough challenge, but so rewarding...and of course a massive team effort! Anyone who has ever had any involvement with War on Cancer's event know we have a great team spirit going - I hope to get a tram together to do this challenge and show everyone else how good and strong our team spirit is.

Can you contact me through this blog, Facebook or phone to register your interest with me - I would ideally like to look at sometime in November for this event.

Big shout out virtual hugs to my cousin Jane who is ploughing on through her treatments. She has had a few dodgy do's and a couple of hospital stays but is in fine fighting spirit. From myself and all War on Cancer readers, I wish you continuing love and support in your battle with cancer - you are a really strong, positive lass and I know you can keep strong through it all. Your outlook on life and sense of humour show through when times are a little rougher - you go girl! So hugs and kisses from us all.

I've been pretty much out of it from a physical/ exercise point of view for the last few months. I am in this terrible cycle of infections! I have practically had an infection for the last 8/10 weeks nonstop. Uti and kidney infections abound! I have been seeing my bladder specialist every 3 weeks and everytime I go back to see him, another raging infection.

So I was back this week to see him, yes another raging infection ( I asked if it was the same one just not clearing properly), so he said we'll start you on another series of antibiotics, clear the infection and see what's what when it's gone. So he was going to put me on a high does antibiotic for 5 days and then a nightly low dose one for a number of months - he says to me, that will definitely clear it up. I pointed out that the low dose one he was going to put me on I was already on and had been for over 5 months, and that he'd put me on them!

He then checked the lab results of my last culture sent off about 3 weeks prior to see that the infection had become resistant to the antibiotic I'd been on for all those months....seems the bacteria is fighting back! So I am on tow different antibiotics and the long term low dose one I'll be taking in a few days is actually going to be 250 mg's a night. I will take this for initially 3 months, I will see him again in 6 weeks and then a further follow up after the 3 months to see what's going on. Of course if I am still getting flare up's in between, I'll be back with him for further action.

He said to me, don't worry, we will get there. I said okay we'll get there, but please appreciate where I am right now, I am feeling unwell all the time, extremely tired through the infection and broken and very poor sleep. I'm suffering with a fever, lower back pain and flank pain almost constantly. Not to mention the  bladder spasms, bearing down pains and all the usual symptoms you suffer with a uti... this is a really debilitating situation to be in and very frustrating too.

At the end of the next 3 months worth of antibiotics - I will have been on them  for over 10 months straight - it makes me wonder long term how that will effect everything....will my body start building up a resistance to them and so reduce their effectiveness on me? - who knows.

My biggest frustration with this is the fact it is again stopping me from cracking on with my exercising! - I'm sure anyone who has ever read any of the blogs know that I am very driven and motivated to exercise, to
get myself fit again, to increase my stamina and endurance.

I want to personally exercise for various reasons and I'm always encouraging others to do the same, the health benefits are great.

I exercise to help my body fight off the threat of certain cancers, to try keep my bones has strong and healthy as possible - especially since I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis brought on by the chemotherapy. The best way to help your own body try and fight Osteo is weight bearing exercises - this stops your body releasing much needed calcium from your bones. I don't even fully understand the implications of the Osteo on my body or my future life, but I know I want to do everything in my power to try and reduce the potential impact  of what is known as the "Silent disease" - I don't know all the ins and outs, I know the risk is greater for very low impact fractures, the real risk area's are wrist, spine and pelvis....so yes I get frustrated when I cannot get out exercising.

I am due my DEXA scan in the first quarter of 2013 - the results from this will be interesting. Since my first scan where I was diagnosed with full blown Osteoporosis ( Doctors quote ), I did 11 months on the cancer prevention drug Letrozole which causes Osteo....so it will be interesting to see what impact the drug had on my body already with Osteo verses my exercising and attempts to stop/slow down the diseases impact on my body. Interesting times ahead!

I'm busy studying now - a fully fledged student no less! - in between job hunting and all that, I am now attending Bradford College for two separate courses. I am doing a part-time Bsl course which I love! and also a ITQ course. The ITQ is computer office applications - the modules I've chosen are Excel, Word and Access ( databases ), these are required more and more these days from potential employers....we live in the electronic world now and these skills are necessary in the job market for anything office based, so if you aren't already working, this course and qualifications will help you immensely.

So I'm a busy lass looking at re-training and moving my life into a new direction.....this is very exciting and I'm enjoying every second of it. So two part-time college courses, a maths refresher course, job searching and a 6 month voluntary job search related package have got me really busy and on my toes these days and I couldn't be happier.

I've come a long way since stopping my cancer prevention drug - I'm no longer ill and unfit for work - I'm back out there living my life, It proves if you want it bad enough....you will do whatever you need  to get it!

Remember - life is for living, no regrets!!

Until next time
Tracy

Charity car wash was fun

Hello everyone
Sunday's car wash was fun and certainly much warmer than the one we last held in February this year!

Thank you to all the volunteers who gave up part of their Sunday to come help and support, so thank you Stuart, Jane, Andrea, Caroline, Robyn and Rayne. It was in actual fact very quiet, at first I thought it must have been because we were doing it on the Sunday instead of a Saturday....then we remembered it was actually the beer festival in nearby Saltaire ( World heritage site ), we joked saying we should have set up in the centre of Saltaire - business would have been booming!

Regardless of the fact it was quieter, we still had a good few hours and lots of fun to boot!.... my sister Caroline has been banned from controlling the hosepipe has her skills only covered drenching her fellow volunteers more than the cars!! We raised a nice £94.00 from the car wash and a further £20.00 on two T-shirts my cousin Andrea ordered. So all in all a tidy £114.00 raised on the day. This had taken the total raised so far to just over £4500.00 - very pleased with the ways things are progressing.

I will keep checking the weather in the next month - and if we are due a good weekend and enough volunteers are available, I will try fit in another before it gets too cold.

I am going to look into a winter indoor endurance team challenge - probably around November - this will be a good fun day, probably very tiring, but will be a massive achievement for those who wish to be part of something just a little bit different. I will check it all out and get back to you....but I guarantee, it will take the whole team playing their part for it to be a success.

I'm thinking with professional help of course - if everything including costs can be agreed ( hopefully Lost Earth Adventures ) - an indoor climbing sponsored challenge - please friends around the world - see if you can do the same local to you, set up a team and do the sponsored challenge on the same day - and we'll compete for the fastest time or something to become War on Cancer's World Champions!! we can make it and annual event - see which team rule supreme - just because you are not here doesn't mean you cannot mirror some of the events if you feel passionately enough about what War on Cancer is all about.

FEEDBACK FOR YOU ALL WOULD BE REALLY NICE - LETS SET UP AN INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE - War on Cancer and I would love that very much!

Okay the indoor winter sponsored challenge I'm going to look into is a team challenge ( hopefully taken up around the world in aid of and the name of War on Cancer - is Climbing the equivalent height of Mt. Everest in a day! - I will check out the costs and logistics of this and of course the minimum amount of team members  required for this challenge. I hope you feed back to me about this crazy fun idea - how many people will ever be able to say they along with their team members climbed the height of Mt. Everest in a day!!

Get back to me please and let me know if you would be interested in this great challenge - especially our friends around the world - I would love for it to happen elsewhere too!

Okay, until next time
Tracy

Charity car wash

Hello everyone

I hope you weekend is going well and you are enjoying yourselves whatever you are doing, this is a quick blog to remind you good folks about the charity car wash tomorrow.

We will be there from noon until 16.00pm, the cost per car as always is a fantastic bargain of £3.00! Keep your fingers crossed that the weather is going to be okay, but no matter, we will be there with our sponges and smiles!

You could always combine eating at the pub while we wash your car - what a great relaxing way of getting your car cleaned while enjoying some great pub grub!

I hope you can make it, please tell your family and friends about it, the more cars the merrier, help us raise a load of money for my two chosen cancer charities - Walk the Walk uniting against breast cancer and Clic Sargent children's cancer charities, two very worthy charities who are doing great work to help eradicate cancer for future generations.

So remember, share this blog on your social networking sites, tell family, friends and neighbours - make me and my fantastic team of volunteers work our butts off in the name of War on Cancer.....we really don't mind!

Thank you all for your continued support

Until next time
Tracy

Total raised by Yorkshire 3 Peak challenge announced!

Hello everyone
I am extremely happy and proud to announce that the Yorkshire 3 Peak sponsored challenge that took place on June 2nd 2012 raised a fantastic £1811.00!! Here's a little diagram and photos of the 3 peaks to remind everyone of what a superb effort the whole climb was.

The Yorkshire 3 Peaks is a tough endurance walk over 25 miles and rough terrain. A superb team of 23 people stepped up for the challenge on Sat June 2nd to tackle the 3 peaks. It's hard to describe what a great bunch of family & friends set off that morning on a grueling 12 hours plus day of climbing over very tough and rough terrain. The weather was supposed to be pretty fair, but turned out to not be so, but no-one allowed the cold, wet weather to dampen their spirits.

Our new friends and mountain guides Richard & Sarah, owners of Lost Earth Adventures and their crew of mountain leaders did us proud that day, making sure not only did everyone get around the 3 peaks safely, but that everyone enjoyed themselves as well. The best compliment I could ever have got was when the whole mountain crew praised every single walker on  them making the day a pleasure for them to work with, and that they had had a great time laughing and joking with everyone.

Richard said it was one of the best days he had been involved in and thank me for letting them be part of War on Cancers first annual endurance challenge. He, Sarah and the others said it had being a truly inspiring experience. Everyone worked really hard that day, but your hard work has paid off handsomely, raising a awe inspiring £1811.00 and raised cancer awareness at the same time. Richard & Sarah, I and WOC look forward to collaborating with you and Lost Earth Adventures in the near future and for many years to come. To every single one of you walkers I and WoC thank you deeply for taking part.

I eagerly await December when I will announce the 2013 sponsored challenge - I hope the team who did this years challenge come take part in the 2013 one and hopefully we can from our tales of our experiences encourage more friends will come join us, it would be great to improve and surpass 2012 with the number of people involved, and hopefully the amount raised. This years challenge was a huge success, not just in the amount of money we raised but in the enjoyment factor of everyone involved.

I thank each and everyone of you who read the blog, share the blog, check out the ads, take part in the events and challenges and most importantly - those of you who always give  unwavering support to WoC and myself, who support the cause I believe so strongly in, and take up with great humour any crazy, mad and sometimes exhausting challenges and events without ever batting an eyelid.

Thank you for helping me to make my dreams of raising money and awareness for cancer come true, you are all my hero's, without all of you, WoC wouldn't exist. You make me so proud.

Until next time
Tracy

Charity car wash date confirmed

Hello everyone

A very brief update today, just to tell you the car wash is confirmed!

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend, we have had a gloriously sunny day here in West Yorkshire! Here's a sunset I shot last weekend, it is as nice tonight for sure.

The car wash will take place on Sunday 16th September from noon - 16.00pm, after that you'll find some of our volunteers checking out Saltaire's beer festival!

We will be holding the car wash at our usual place. The Sun Inn at Cottingley, a big thank you as always to Mike for allowing us to use the car-park and for him donating the water! Hope to see you there, we will be waiting with our sponges and smiles.

Thank you to the volunteers who are giving up their Sunday afternoon to help raise money for cancer charities, without you, these events couldn't take place.

 Until next time
Tracy

Total raised from the Yorkshire 3 peaks to be announced shortly!

Here's a photo of the moon I shot on September 2nd. Really happy with the clarity of it.

I am happy to announce I almost have a total raised from the Yorkshire 3 peak sponsored challenge back in June. I cannot tell you how happy I am that I can give you a total very soon!

The endurance challenge for 2013 will be announced in December - so this allows people to sort out a training programme and accommodation for the sponsored event.I hope we get at least the same amount if not more  entrants for the 2013 challenge - it would be great to get more people to work hard on our endurance challenge while raising money and awareness for cancer charities.

Who's up for another sponsored endurance event next year??? How about you getting a team together to climb ( on an indoor climbing wall ) the equivalent of Mt.Everest in a day between your team??? up to the challenge? know enough friends who would be willing to have a go??.....watch this space!

I'm still trying to sort out volunteers for a charity car wash - I'm looking at Sunday 16th September...I will confirm if I get enough volunteers, it would be nice to get a car wash in before it gets too cold - also we haven't had a chance to use the new enlarged posters, hopefully they will bring in more passing motorists!!...it's either that or I'll be borrowing some traffic cones to re-direct the cars through the car wash ;)

I had another great climb up Whernside this week, I was improved from my climb two weeks ago, I felt really good and am looking forward to my next one! Will be climbing it again in the next couple of weeks....and also have a Pen-Y-Ghent climb coming up too. I will be match fit be the end of the year if I can carry on like this.

I am back to see my bladder specialist next week for more tests, hopefully he will have some answers for me by the end of the tests....as yet it is unclear if the continuing problems I'm having are just a blip as it were, or if in actual fact, the procedures I had done to solve my problems have in fact made it worse....will know more next week.

Loving been outdoors hill climbing and power walking with Molly....not bothered with the gym, always better in the great outdoors!!

My big brother Graham has confirmed he will indeed be coming with me next year when I climb Mt.Kilimanjaro...this is great, I was always going to climb, even if it were just me....but will be brilliant going with my big bro!! My sister Caroline and old chum Mandy would love to be there at the bottom when when get back from our successful climb.....whether this in fact comes off I don't know....would be ace if it could happen. Then a couple of days chilling and recovering at the beach sounds good to me.

I am feeling full of confidence for my Mt.Kilimanjaro climb next year again - I was so very disheartened after my 3 peak challenge, it really shocked me how bad it was. But every week that goes by now see's me stronger and fitter. By the time we go to climb Sept/Oct time....I will be hopefully at my physical best - I know that will never be as it was before the cancer and consequent illnesses and issues I now live with....but it will be more than enough to see me up and down the world's tallest free standing mountain. I as always look forward to this challenge.

I am open to idea's to help get WoC out there and more recognised....Come the New Year, will push with the local papers and radio....anyone else think of something please contact me.

Also - thinking of putting WoC out for adoption......So you can adopt a certain event or a portion of the year or even the whole year! this is a great way for WoC to raise some funds....and for you good folks out there to get involved, whether it is for you personally or your business....I would love to hear from you all! - I will set out a section to promote you/your business if you come forward to adopt us.....will it sell it better to you, if I promise it's not me you are adopting, and no I won't turn up on your doorstep with my belongings ;)

Please seriously consider adopting us for an event, or for a time period....I will make sure you get the recognition you deserve for this. Also we need Ambassadors for War on Cancer - to help spread the word, to tell people what we are doing, and what we are about.All of you can help me keep raising awareness and money to help eradicate cancer for future generations.

So until next time when I announce the 3 peak total raised, take care
Tracy