49, breast and endometrial cancer

As an athlete I was often in a bit of a quandary in that I was driven by ambition but also driven by not allowing life to pass me by. I enjoyed a good career and achieved great success, but when the time was appropriate, when nothing major was on, I enjoyed myself being out with friends and having a good time. In my career, I would determine my goals and could focus on the job at hand. And that's been the single most important factor in helping me deal with cancer - being able to focus on getting through the surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and the concept of being confronted with a life-threatening disease. I have a desire and what I consider a responsibility to the community to make them aware that cancer can happen to anyone, and in that way, hopefully save lives.

I'm deriving great rewards from helping others, and there are parallels there to the pleasure I gave people as an athlete.