I’ve always recognised Cancer Research and Macmillan as being excellent charities and ones that we all have a high potential to benefit from at some point in our lives. I have been wanting to give a bit back. However, I wanted to feel happy that I was being challenged in what I did.
Many people have signed up to the many walking/miles/steps challenges but I regular achieve 15K steps a day so this would neither be out of my comfort zone nor a challenge.
Then the Cancer Research Christmas Swim challenge popped into my inbox. Hmmm 60 length of a pool no longer appeals (see why I swim outdoors). Whilst I swim regularly outdoors, it is becoming increasingly more difficult because of the cold. The “large puddle” in which I swim has dropped to (we think) around 8 degrees). Getting in literally takes your breath away. The hardest part in getting out and getting warm afterwards and as a result swim times are getting shorter and shorter.
So 45 minutes may not be a long swim, and I’m splitting this into 3 or 4 shorter swims (maybe 5) , it is going to get increasingly more difficult as December progresses. We haven’t even had a frost yet and when I started swimming regularly in June – I uttered the words – I will only swim until the clocks go back!.
I’ve looked at what Cancer Research have done for breast cancer alone. I have personally benefited from these 3 break throughs (see below). Imagine that amount of change across ALL cancers.
My Christmas Swim Challenge giving page is open. I understand everyone is struggling at the moment but if 100 people gave just a pound then I’ve hit my target.
- UPDATE – 02/12/2022 – managed an amazing 19 minutes, but pushed on for a bit too long. Body temperature continues to drop after exiting the water. So it takes longer to warm up. I’m aiming for 12-15 minutes next swim.
- UPDATE – 4/12/2022 – Managed 13 minutes – really pleased
- UPDATE – 7/12/2022 – Managed another 10 minutes – I’m annoyingly just 3 minutes short of my 45 minutes – but I didn’t want to stay in too long. The water wasn’t getting any colder but I had to scrape my car this morning so the air temperature is sub-zero and as your body continues to cool after you get out of the water, I didn’t want to over do it.
- UPDATE – 7/12/2022 – was scheduled to swim today but the with air temperatures at around -4 – I actually bottled it. My head just couldn’t get around how my body would feel. But we’re drawing closer to Christmas and I’m worried about fitting it in.
- UPDATE – 11/12/2022 – It snowed a little yesterday, and it was 1 degree at 7am this morning. The water temp was 4 degrees and crikey did I know it. I struggled with the first two minutes, they’re always the hardest but as I had to stay for 3, I worked through it and manged 10!! Really pleased. Smashed my target but will carry on for as long as I can now.
- UPDATE 16/12.2022 – My cancer Research Bobble hot arrived on Wednesday which is a good job as the temperatures have dropped considerably. There was ice at our normal entry point. The water was 3 degrees and we were able to find an ice free spot. I managed 4.5 minutes which was a shame as I was just starting to enjoy my swim when my fingers started to get numb. Numb fingers are hopeless for getting warm and dry quickly so a rapid exit is the sensible move.
- UPDATE 21/12/2022 – It’s the winter solstice and a good forecast so headed out for a sunrise swim donning my new Cancer Research Bobble hat. Air temp a little warmer but I didn’t want to push it so did just 4 minutes. Getting dry and sorted afterwards much easier.
- UPDATE 27/12/2022 – one last push for the year. Mum’s bought me a wild swimmer beanie for Christmas and a swim friend knitted me a hat. I wore both. Santa also delivered a USB hand-warmer and swim gloves. But it was still the cold in my hands that forced me to exit after 7 minutes.
My tally is at 67.5 minutes. My target 45 but I have had to break it down into more swims than I first imagined. The temperatures have dropped so quickly. It would be great to finish the month on an hour but I’m not feeling great today and haven’t gone. Please consider donating to my fundraiser. Anything, just a £1 will help. Christmas Swim Challenge.
Breast conserving surgery – I got away with having a lumpectomy. I’ve a couple of lumps and bumps but you can barely see the scar. Thank you cancer research.
Anastrozole – I have to take this before moving onto Tomoxifen. Ten years of tablets. It’s preventative as it reduces the oestrogen my cancer likes to feed on. Further research may show less years are needed by the time I get there which can only help my osteoporisis.
5 days of radiotherapy is all I had. It’s a belt and braces approach and much better than chemotherapy but still very tiring.
Thank you Cancer Research.
1972 – Pioneering a kinder treatment: breast-conserving surgery
Countless women are saved from unnecessary surgery after we build the case(link is external) for breast-conserving surgery.
A revolutionary idea at the time, it’s now done routinely for early breast cancer.
2013 – Cutting breast cancer cases with the drug Anastrozole
Our IBIS-II trial demonstrates that the drug anastrozole can prevent breast cancer.
The trial(link is external) shows(link is external) a reduced number of breast cancer cases in high-risk post-menopausal women treated with the drug.
2013 – Discovering a better way to give radiotherapy
The benefits of giving fewer, higher doses of radiotherapy treatment over a shorter time are now known. This is in part thanks to our clinical trials(link is external).
This shorter radiotherapy is found to be as effective at treating early-stage breast cancer as the longer course reducing daily hospital trips.
Carolyn Trafford is a Creative Life Coach, supporting others in reaching their own goals in a creative way sine 2010. Author of “Don’t Just Dream It – Achieve It!” (A great way to kickstart those goals). This interactive book is available from her online shop: https://carolyntraffordart.ecwid.com/Dont-Just-Dream-It-Achieve-It-Book-p196854491) . She was diagnosed with Breast Cancer on the 20th September 2021 following her first routine screening with the NHS at 51.
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