Tamsin Bowden - “2024, The Year I Learned a Thing or Two About Life”
At Rivers, we’re proud to share stories of strength and resilience from our community.
Here is Tamsin Bowden’s (one of our Gifted & Talented members) account of her journey from when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2024 and the challenges she has faced over the following 9 months.
“My 2024 could not have gone less to plan. Triathlon is my passion, and with support from Rivers, I spent 2023 training to compete for Team GB in the duathlon and triathlon Age Group World Championships. By March 2024, I was feeling fit and proud of myself. I’d just achieved personal bests for both 5K and 10K runs at the age of 48. My race calendar was packed with exciting events, including two Age Group Team GB competitions in Lisbon and Malaga. The year looked promising.
The cold cap machine: An uncomfortable but helpful tool to reduce hair loss.
But, as they say, life happens when you’re busy making plans. At the end of March, I found a lump in my right breast. Initially, I wasn’t too concerned, but my partner insisted I see my GP. Fast forward through around 40 hospital appointments, and I learned that the lump was cancerous. Suddenly, all my carefully laid plans were turned upside down.
As someone who depends on being active for mental well-being, hearing the diagnosis was devastating. Chemotherapy was a frightening word that brought thoughts of weakness, sickness, and hair loss. The word cancer forced me to confront my own mortality. I was scared of everything it meant, but I was even more terrified of losing my identity as a runner, swimmer, and cyclist—the sports that have brought me so much happiness over the years. My new focus became surviving five months of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and further treatments to fight the cancer into remission. None of this sounded appealing, and there were no medals at the finish line.
Mallory Park European Championships Qualifier (April 2024): I placed 3rd Female overall. (I cried at the finish, knowing I’d start chemo soon.)
Chemotherapy began on June 6th and ended on November 8th. It involved eight cycles of two different drugs and came with many strange and unpleasant side effects. I worked hard to stay active, but on my worst days, it was my dog pulling me out for a walk, not the other way around. On good days, I could still manage a jog or cycle if I took it slow and careful. Movement has always helped me feel like myself, so staying active, even in small ways, was essential. However, being immune-suppressed meant I couldn’t swim or go to places where I might pick up infections. Life started to feel like an endless uphill marathon.
When chemotherapy ended, my body was given five weeks to recover before surgery. By the end of that time, I managed a slow but joyful 10K run and started to feel more like myself. My operation to remove any remaining cancer took place in mid-December. I had hoped to walk a parkrun over Christmas, but I quickly realized that was overly optimistic.
Now it’s mid-January 2025, and I’ve just received the best news: I am cancer-free! I cried happy tears, a release after months of frustration and worry. This journey has felt like a tough race, full of hills that seemed impossible to climb at times. But 2025 is here, and the future suddenly feels much brighter. I’ll turn 50 this year, and the world of sports and fitness is calling me back.
Today, I had my first day back at Rivers, working out in the gym. While I’m not yet ready to run or swim, there are countless ways to move, build strength, and work towards getting back to competition. I’m so grateful for the support I’ve received during my illness. Now, with my Rivers membership, I’m ready to focus on my rehabilitation and return to the activities I love.”
Exercise plays a powerful role in recovery, with research showing that physical activity can reduce cancer recurrence by up to 40%. At Rivers, we believe in the transformative power of movement, and Tamsin’s story is a testament to that.
