Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
14 August 2013 11:34
A woman diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago is set to climb Kilimanjaro
A mother-of-two from Cardiff is set to climb Africa's highest mountain - one month after she finishes her treatment for breast cancer.
Rachael Barlow-Maguire, 41, was diagnosed with the disease a year ago. By the time the lump in her breast was discovered, it was already 4.5cm in size and had begun to spread.
She underwent radiotherapy and is currently on an intravenous treatment until the middle of August.
"I had the chemo for four months along with herceptin, which I have for a year, I also used alternative treatments, including reflexology and mediation, and when they went to check during surgery, they found that the cancer had gone," Mrs Barlow-Maguire told Wales Online. She will have to take drugs for at least another five years to reduce the risk of the cancer re-occurring.
Mrs Barlow-Maguire, who has a 10-year-old daughter named Ellie and a six-year-old son named Ed, is now preparing for her trek up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Cardiff's Velindre Hospital, where she received her treatment.
Specialist travel insurance for cancer patients should help her and those in a similar situation enjoy a carefree and relaxing holiday.
John Byers of Cardiff PT Studio, who has been training with her, said: "We did take it easy at first while we were re-introducing her body to exercise but over the last couple of months we have been pushing her to make sure she is fit enough to enjoy the beauty of Kilimanjaro."
The money raised for the hospital's cancer centre will be used to help other people diagnosed with cancer and their families receive the best possible care, support and treatment.
Mrs Barlow-Maguire, who will embark on the trek up the 19,340ft mountain along with comedian Rhod Gilbert, said she was overwhelmed by the support she received from friends and family, but also from the community.
She said: "I had just celebrated my 40th birthday when I found the lump. It has totally changed my life and how I look and see everything. In some ways though it has enriched my life, I have been amazed by the response from the local community."
18 January 2019
A plant-based diet is needed to protect future generations and safeguard the wellbeing of the planet, according to experts.
[more...]
17 January 2019
Campaigners are protesting outside the High Court in London as the legal challenge against Heathrow Airport's controversial expansion ramps up.
16 January 2019
A new way to predict a woman's risk of breast cancer has been unveiled by scientists - and it's the most comprehensive method yet.
15 January 2019
NHS commissioners could be slapped with a £2,500 fine for every patient left waiting more than a year for vital care, new proposals suggest.
12 January 2019
All UK airports should buy anti-drone technology and not rely on the Royal Air Force to help out, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has said.
10 January 2019
The military was brought in on Tuesday night after police officers saw a drone operating at Heathrow Airport, forcing departures to be suspended for an hour.
11 January 2019
A so-called "drug sponge" that mops up leftover drugs from cancer treatment could improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy, new research has claimed.
09 January 2019
A hormone released during exercise could help protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests.
08 January 2019
Ryanair has been labelled the worst airline operating in the UK for the sixth year running in a leading consumer group survey.
05 January 2019
Anti-drone technology will be deployed at the UK's two busiest airports in response to the disruption caused before Christmas.
04 January 2019
A new cancer-detecting breathalyser test is being trialled in the UK - in a move that could revolutionise the way the disease is diagnosed.
03 January 2019
The average 10-year-old child will have already eaten more sugar in their life than the maximum amount recommended for 18-year-olds, a new study reveals.