More than 35,000 runners are expected to take part in the London Marathon on Sunday, including our new fitness hero, Diana Green.
Diana will be running the 26.2 miles for the charity Breast Cancer Now after she survived the disease thanks to successful treatment.
Sunday also happens to be her 82nd birthday.
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Diana Green
Diana was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 at the age of 68.
She was adamant she was going to fight the disease, and with no history of running at all, she declared she was going to run the London Marathon the following year.
“When my husband and I told my daughter I’d been diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2002 she just burst into tears," Diana told The Huffington Post UK.
"I told her not to worry, I was going to run the London marathon the following year. And I did."
Diana, from Northamptonshire, underwent surgery to remove the lump followed by radiation treatment.
True to her word, she completed her first marathon a year later, aged 69, raising money for breast cancer research.
This will be her 13 London marathon and probably her last.
She is aiming to complete the course in seven hours and her training schedule has included a local Park Run every Saturday morning, using the treadmill in her house and maintaining a healthy diet.
"I’m so looking forward to running in the marathon on Sunday and this year on my birthday! It’s going to be tough but the atmosphere is so amazing and I know that will help me cross the finish line," she said.
"The crowds are so wonderful, they really spur you on! I’m excited to be starting in the VIP section and spying some celebs.
"I’m really proud to run for Breast Cancer Now again. So many people are affected by the disease in one way or another and I want to do raise as much money and awareness as possible."
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Diana Green/ Go Fund Me
Colin Norford, assistant director of national fundraising at Breast Cancer Now said he is "thrilled" Diana has chosen to support the charity once again.
"She is an inspiration to us all, and proof that no matter your age, it’s never too late to take on a challenge and do some amazing fundraising," he said.
"Diana has shown tremendous support for Breast Cancer Now and the charity’s research over the years and we’d all like to wish her the best of luck for the marathon on Sunday - and also a very Happy Birthday!"
This year, Diana will also be raising money for a local hospital, as her daughter, Sue, was diagnosed with lung cancer in February.
"The care she's had so far and the speed of diagnosis by the Lung Cancer Team at Kettering General Hospital has been wonderful.
"Sue begins a course of chemotherapy at the Centenary Wing at KGH shortly and I would like to raise money for this unit in recognition of the wonderful work they do."
"A new painless, firm breast lump with irregular margins is a potential symptom of breast cancer," says Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, a breast cancer researcher at the Mayo Clinic. "The cancer diagnosis is confirmed following a biopsy of the lump." She notes that usually, women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer are healthy and don't feel sick at all. (credit:LarsZahnerPhotography via Getty Images)
Other Symptoms(02 of10)
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Another potential symptom/sign of breast cancer, Pruthi notes, is a new onset of persistent redness on the skin overtop the breast with an orange peel appearance. This would also need a biopsy to confirm a diagnosis of breast cancer. (credit:Image Source via Getty Images)
Metastatic Cancer Symptoms(03 of10)
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"If the cancer is very advanced (metastatic) then the symptoms may also include weight loss, bone pain, headaches, nausea and persistent cough," Pruthi says. (credit:pamela burley via Getty Images)
What Are The Risk Factors?(04 of10)
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Some commonly associated risk factors, Pruthi says, are menstruation before age 11, menstruation after age 54, a first pregnancy after age 35 and a family history of relatives diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer. (credit:AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Are There Any Lifestyle Risk Factors?(05 of10)
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"There is evidence in the literature that obesity after menopause, lack of regular exercise, consuming greater than more or more alcoholic beverages daily, and a high fat diet can all be associated with a higher breast cancer risk," Pruthi notes. But, she points out, "women need to know that any woman can get breast cancer even in the absence of any of these risk factors." (credit:Adrian Samson via Getty Images)
Can I Eat Anything To Prevent It?(06 of10)
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There are no specific types of diets, Pruthi says, but rather women are encouraged to eat fruits, vegetables, fibre, and minimize their alcohol and fat intake, as well as get regular exercise. (credit:lola1960 via Getty Images)
How Do Doctors Determine Treatment?(07 of10)
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"The most current treatment of breast cancer has taken on a individualized approach and is dependent on the biology or aggressive features of the breast cancer," Pruthi explains. "Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and this means that are many sub-types and different degrees of aggressiveness. So staging, which typically takes into account common prognostic features such as tumour size and if lymph nodes are involved, are no longer the only factors doctors use to determine treatment options." (credit:Christopher Futcher via Getty Images)
So What Do They Look At?(08 of10)
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"Today the biology of the tumour is also characterized by molecular markers (also known as predictive markers) such as if the estrogen or progesterone receptor is positive or negative and if the HER 2 protein is positive or negative," she says. "This helps decide who will benefit from a specific chemotherapy regimen, hormonal medications known as antiestrogens or who may need both chemotherapy and hormonal treatment." (credit:BluePlanetEarth via Getty Images)
What About Preventative Mastectomies?(09 of10)
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"Preventive mastectomy is an option for women at very high risk for developing breast cancer because they are BRCA 1 or 2 gene positive or if someone has hereditary predisposition to getting breast cancer but chooses not to have the genetic testing done," Pruthi says. "It is prudent that women who are considering this surgery know their family history in detail. Based on the moderate or strong family history, your doctor would recommend you meet with a genetic counselor to go over the family pedigree and help decide who should test for the breast cancer gene, when to test and how to interpret the genetic test results before proceeding with this preventive surgery." (credit:Jesús Jaime Mota via Getty Images)
Are Other Preventative Treatments Available?(10 of10)
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"High risk women who have had precancerous breast biopsies or strong family history may also be eligible to take preventive medications such as tamoxifen, raloxifene or exemestane to reduce breast cancer risk," Pruthi adds. (credit:art-4-art via Getty Images)