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Have you ever had someone completely misunderstand what you're going through after cancer? That moment when a well-meaning comment reveals just how wide the gap is between their perception and your reality?

When my nurse casually remarked I was "lucky" not to have periods anymore after chemotherapy, it sparked deeper reflection on how cancer forces our bodies onto timelines we never chose. That presumed "convenience" actually represents profound loss—the natural rhythms and feedback mechanisms our bodies use to communicate with us.

Before cancer, my menstrual cycle wasn't just a monthly occurrence but a reliable barometer for my overall health. As an athlete and during military deployments, changes in my cycle signaled when I needed rest or better nutrition. Losing this connection at age 45 created an unexpected void—one of many ways cancer survivors experience disconnection from bodies that feel like they've betrayed us.

This disconnection extends beyond menstruation. A friend who underwent mastectomy later faced the heartbreak of being unable to breastfeed her newborn. These moments highlight cancer's double cruelty: first the disease itself, then the permanent alterations to our natural life progression.

Yet within this altered timeline, we can find ways to reclaim agency. For me, this means replacing my monthly cycle with yearly adventures—specifically, leading expeditions to Mount Kilimanjaro. These self-chosen physical challenges rebuild trust with my body and create new rhythms on my terms.

If you're navigating similar post-cancer terrain, know your feelings of grief and loss are entirely valid. And if reclaiming your physical power appeals to you, consider joining our 2026 Kilimanjaro climb. Registration opens June 10th—perhaps the perfect opportunity to write a new chapter in your relationship with your body.

Support the show

? Have a question about our group trips? Book a call with Rebecca here: https://calendar.app.google/6wYbYugTCvJfXiWZ8

💪🏽 Get our Kilimanjaro Coaching: https://calendar.app.google/QW5JywkMYUpGcbsa8

✨ Do you want to sponsor Hike Like A Woman? Fill out our form: https://forms.gle/sXTcn2P9bVZ53Sqc6

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🥾 Buy rad HLAW swag here: https://hikelikeawoman.creator-spring.com/

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GROUP TRIPS

✈️ Join us for our next Kilimanjaro climb: https://trovatrip.com/trip/africa/tanzania/tanzania-with-hikelikeawoman-aug-2025

✈️ Join us for our group trip to Patagonia: https://trovatrip.com/trip/south-america/patagonia/argentina-with-rebecca-walsh-oct-2025

✈️ Book Tour du Mont Blanc Aug 16-22: ...

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Watching my eighth-grader run the anchor leg of a relay race transformed into an unexpected mirror of my breast cancer journey. Despite being a full lap behind when he received the baton, my son never quit—he ran his heart out with no hope of winning. This powerful moment crystallized what life after cancer truly means.

When treatment ends, many survivors feel perpetually "a lap behind" as we witness how the world continued spinning while our lives were on pause. Careers advanced, relationships shifted, and we emerged into a reality that suddenly feels disorienting. Yet within this challenging transition lies profound wisdom.

Running your own race becomes essential after cancer. The pressure to "catch up" or return to your pre-diagnosis life can be overwhelming, but healing follows a deeply personal timeline. I've learned to release comparisons and embrace my new pace, finding strength in simply moving forward. Cancer forged resilience I never knew existed—a hard-earned gift amid the struggle that became my foundation for navigating life afterward.

Perhaps most transformative was redefining victory itself. Before cancer, I measured success by external achievements, constantly trying to "lap everyone around the track." Now, winning means being fully present for each moment—a practice my yoga teacher calls "being where your feet are." Whether I'm training for Kilimanjaro, watching my son compete, or sharing dinner with family, true success is showing up completely.

The next time cancer makes you feel impossibly behind, remember those anchor leg runners. The goal isn't crossing the finish line first—it's finding the courage to keep moving forward at whatever pace works for you. Your unique journey isn't a competition with others but a profound opportunity to discover what truly matters.

Support the show

? Have a question about our group trips? Book a call with Rebecca here: https://calendar.app.google/6wYbYugTCvJfXiWZ8

💪🏽 Get our Kilimanjaro Coaching: https://calendar.app.google/QW5JywkMYUpGcbsa8

✨ Do you want to sponsor Hike Like A Woman? Fill out our form: https://forms.gle/sXTcn2P9bVZ53Sqc6

/-/-/-/

TECH

▶️ Go-Pro: https://amzn.to/49yhSuq

▶️ DJI Wireless Microphone: https://amzn.to/49yhSuq

▶️ DJi Osmo Mobile Tripod: https://amzn.to/41q366E

/-/-/-/

SHOP

🥾 Rockporch (if you’re shopping REI or Moosejaw): https://app.rockporch.com/Profile/hikelikeawoman

🥾 Amazon (because ya know, we’re all doing it): https://www.amazon.com/shop/hikelikeawoman

🥾 Buy rad HLAW swag here: https://hikelikeawoman.creator-spring.com/

/-/-/-/

GROUP TRIPS

✈️ Join us for our next Kilimanjaro climb: https://trovatrip.com/trip/africa/tanzania/tanzania-with-hikelikeawoman-aug-2025

✈️ Join us for our group trip to Patagonia: https://trovatrip.com/trip/south-america/patagonia/argentina-with-rebecca-walsh-oct-2025

✈️ Book Tour du Mont Blanc Aug 16-22: ...

Send us a text

Support the show

? Have a question about our group trips? Book a call with Rebecca here: https://calendar.app.google/6wYbYugTCvJfXiWZ8

💪🏽 Get our Kilimanjaro Coaching: https://calendar.app.google/QW5JywkMYUpGcbsa8

✨ Do you want to sponsor Hike Like A Woman? Fill out our form: https://forms.gle/sXTcn2P9bVZ53Sqc6

/-/-/-/

TECH

▶️ Go-Pro: https://amzn.to/49yhSuq

▶️ DJI Wireless Microphone: https://amzn.to/49yhSuq

▶️ DJi Osmo Mobile Tripod: https://amzn.to/41q366E

/-/-/-/

SHOP

🥾 Rockporch (if you’re shopping REI or Moosejaw): https://app.rockporch.com/Profile/hikelikeawoman

🥾 Amazon (because ya know, we’re all doing it): https://www.amazon.com/shop/hikelikeawoman

🥾 Buy rad HLAW swag here: https://hikelikeawoman.creator-spring.com/

/-/-/-/

GROUP TRIPS

✈️ Join us for our next Kilimanjaro climb: https://trovatrip.com/trip/africa/tanzania/tanzania-with-hikelikeawoman-aug-2025

✈️ Join us for our group trip to Patagonia: https://trovatrip.com/trip/south-america/patagonia/argentina-with-rebecca-walsh-oct-2025

✈️ Book Tour du Mont Blanc Aug 16-22: ...