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#ShareYourStory - Regina

Posted: 21 August 2023

Regina Santos is 55 years old, is from a city called Passo Fundo in Brazil, has 1 daughter and a degree in fashion design.

In August 2009, Regina was diagnosed with Rectal Cancer. A month after diagnosis she started chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and in the December was home just in time for Christmas after permanent stoma surgery. The cancer treatment resumed in February of 2010 by intravenous chemotherapy, and she experienced several symptoms including weakness, lack of appetite and taste, hair loss and tingling sensations.

In March 2011 she had a lesion in the lung which hadn’t grown so much because of the chemotherapy but had grown considerably by the April and had surgery to remove it. Regina returned to work in the June and has been with the same company ever since.

After the whirlwind of a life already given to Regina, the pandemic which affected everyone so greatly had arrived. Regina hired a physical trainer in attempt to restore some normality for her daughter knowing that the lockdowns were affecting her mental health and to occupy her mind during this time. They would go out and run with their masks on and without talking to anyone!

Despite her daughter, Ceci, giving up the race, Regina is still going strong today. For Regina, running brings her a feeling of fulfilment. Each finish line is different with mixed emotions – tiredness, but also strength happiness and knowing she is overcoming her physical and mental limits. She believed running is more mind than body and knowing she conquered a 21km run without walking or stopping was magical and she feels gratified personally, physically and mentally.

 

Thankyou to Regina for letting us tell her story!

If you would like to share your story with us, you can do so by going to: https://www.salts.co.uk/en-gb/get-involved/share-your-story