Why I entered The MoonWalk London…

Update from Sharon

I wrote a short blog for you last year, while I was having my cancer treatment.
Today (12th January) is rather poignant for me as this was the date I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Fortunately all my treatment has finished and the Letrozole drug I need to take for five years, hasn’t given me any side effects.
I feel like myself again and my hair is growing back at speed now!
I know how devastating hair loss is for some woman, and I think it makes their progress slower through worrying, which can’t be helped!
I now have my life back, after having what I call a “knock-on-the door”!
I enjoy and appreciate everything more, I have started to swim and also take a ballroom dancing class.

Last year I was wondering if I would make this year, but through my faith and fantastic medical treatment, friends and family I have reached the end of this tunnel. My message to your readers is, this indiscriminate disease can be overcome and good health and happiness resumed, hopefully.

I don’t know if my cancer will return, however, I’m keeping fit and positive and the sunshine is beaming though my window. An excellent sign.

A very happy and healthy 2016 to all your readers, you and your staff that do such supportive and wonderful work to support vital breast cancer causes.
Best wishes, Sharon Sansom.

Read Sharon’s previous blog below:

I had just celebrated my 60th birthday and all was going so well, I exercised, didn’t eat too much junk food (although I do enjoy a Mac D occasionally). I didn’t feel my age and had bags of energy.

After a referral from my GP I had an appointment at my local hospital in Chelmsford on the 31st of December 2014 where a biopsy was taken from under my right arm and that completed my visit. I remember wishing the Doctor and Nurse a Happy New Year, and really didn’t think too much about it after that. On the 12th of January I had to go back and get my results. For many years previously, I had a small piece of protruding bone under my right arm. I always kept a close check on it and had regular mammograms, it had always been described as a small piece of gristle and if I had a larger frame I wouldn’t have felt anything there. So that’s what I was expecting to hear from my consultant. In reality it was like a freight train hitting me.

They had diagnosed a small tumour about 2cm, which they said I wouldn’t have felt probably for about 18 months later so I was extremely fortunate to have been so vigilant. The next step was to have an operation to remove the lump and then radiotherapy. Well it’s bad but could be a lot worse I thought!!!

My plan now was that I didn’t have to worry my only son who at that time was studying at Exeter University, in his final year. I, in my infinite wisdom thought my treatment would be all done and dusted by his graduation in the July of that year. How wrong I was!

My operation was successful and took place on the 12th of February a day after my son’s 21st birthday. This is when I signed up to do the Walk the Walk event through the night in May, The MoonWalk. I had accomplished the full 26 miles a couple of years before and I had enjoyed it immensely. Also having my Mum, Nan and brother pass away with this horrendous disease I thought I was making a small contribution to this fantastic cause. I knew I couldn’t manage a full marathon so the half would be perfect.

Ten days later I go again to get my results and hoping my radiotherapy would follow in quick succession. Not so. Another bombshell, the small tumour had been removed, but the three lymph nodes had been tested and they were cancerous. So now a lymph node clearance had to be done. This was booked in for the 5th of March but now chemotherapy came into the equation. Now my son had to be informed as my appearance would change dramatically.

I was on my second session of chemo and my recovery was very slow, also the side effects were dismal to say the least. On my good days I tried to train as much as possible for the walk and knew from experience if you didn’t train it would be hopeless, it becomes a difficult task and you can’t enjoy yourself and soak up the wonderful atmosphere!

The night was fantastic, the entertainment in the pink tent, the tattoos, massages, shopping and just listening to other Walkers and sharing their experiences of how they cope with this in their lives.

It was heart warming to see a couple of elderly people taking part (I think the lady and gentleman were in their late 80’s) because they enjoy the event but more importantly they were doing it to help the cause.
We will beat it soon!

Even outside the pink tent, the entertainment was super, stilt walkers all dressed as Disney characters, the people who take part are all so friendly. I think many people who Walk the Walk time and time again go early in the evening just to enjoy the great vibes, get motivated and to get you in the zone.

When all my treatment is over I will definitely register for 2016. And hopefully convince my friends to join me. In May of this year I walked alone, I had a fab time with thousands of women (and men) all around me.

London is an amazing city but it’s somehow magical in the early hours and walking into the dawn. The public are super too, they see a sea of pink and the cars hooters start to serenade and keep your spirits up along with the army of delightful Volunteers who support you all the way. It’s a real team effort like an extended family and always a joy to take part.

The excitement of crossing the Finish Line and receiving your medal is such an achievement! The money you have raised seems much more important and valuable to me now, knowing I have received this life saving treatment, I’m so extremely grateful and to know so many thousands of people are surviving cancer and the treatments now so advanced, is reassuring. Walk the Walk is a wonderful organisation and should be fully supported and appreciated by all. Long may events like yours continue and more people take part raising money for research and help for those who are suffering without support.

I am in the last stages of my radiography and looking forward to a healthy future. It’s a very long and arduous task but there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

If my account has helped or enlightened anyone who reads this, then I’m extremely happy and hopefully you will join us on the next MoonWalk in 2016.

Sharon Sansom