Progress Is Not Linear: Lessons From Cancer, Recovery, and the Body

Before I had a double mastectomy, I had these final photos taken of me with breasts

Before my double mastectomy, I had some photos taken. The last ever pictures of me with breasts. It wasn’t about vanity. It was about honouring my body and marking a moment in time. I wanted something to look back on — proof of what had been, and how far I would go.

And maybe, one day, I’ll show them to my daughter. She will never remember me with breasts, even though they kept her alive as a baby. She has only ever known a mum with a completely flat chest. I don’t want her to be surprised when her own body starts changing. I want her to understand that bodies evolve, adapt, and sometimes carry scars — and that none of it makes them less worthy.

During chemotherapy, I managed to carry on doing exercise - even if it was a fraction of my previous intensity

A new friend recently asked me how I ended up coaching people through cancer. The question made me pause, because when I look back, my life has been quietly steering me in this direction for years.

As an athlete, I was disciplined, stubborn, and deeply determined. That mindset carried me through cancer treatment. I approached it like the longest ultra of my life. I kept moving when I could. I ate as well as I was able. I prioritised recovery. Sport didn’t cure cancer — but it absolutely saved me. It gave me structure, agency, and something to hold onto when everything else felt uncertain.

During radiotherapy, my energy started to return but I was nowhere near ‘normal’

Before cancer, I coached runners towards performance goals. Later, after having twins, my work shifted towards pregnant and post-partum women as I navigated my own recovery. That chapter taught me some of the most important lessons I carry today: patience, compassion, and a deep respect for how complex the human body is.

It took me two years to feel strong again after giving birth. Two years of showing up tired, inconsistent, and unsure — yet still making small choices that added up. That’s when I truly understood that progress is never linear. Especially when hormones, trauma, surgery, or fatigue are involved.

Multiple surgeries in a short space of time is common for cancer patients - it’s exhausting

Cancer reinforced that lesson in a different way. Recovery doesn’t move in straight lines. There are setbacks, plateaus, flare-ups, and unexpected wins. Two years after finishing treatment, I finally feel like myself again — but it’s a new version of me. I’m older. More fragile. My body responds differently. And that’s okay.

I’ve learned when to push and when to ease off. I’ve learned to listen instead of override. I’ve learned that compassion isn’t weakness — it’s a skill.

The side effects of hormone therapy after breast cancer are common, complex and long lasting. But there are ways to manage them.

These lessons shape how I coach today. It’s not about me — it’s about you. But I don’t believe you can truly guide someone through this terrain without having walked some of it yourself.

I am a cancer exercise specialist, sports therapist, personal trainer, running and triathlon coach, yoga teacher, and kettlebell instructor — and I currently have two coaching spaces available.

Progress doesn’t have to be fast. It just has to be yours.

Osteoporosis after cancer treatment is a common side effect, which often means taking medication. Exercise and diet also help prevent fractures

Still smiling after cancer treatment - progress is never ‘back’ to your old self. It’s forward to a new self.