‘I did what I could when I could, having been a fit and healthy mum-of-two boys before and determined to stay that way’
Lisa Lear(Image: Lisa Lear)
A mum-of-two has shared how exercise has become her “coping mechanism” after her battle with aggressive cancer.
Lisa Lear was diagnosed with stage three ductal carcinoma breast cancer in July 2024 when she was 37-years-old.
She told Lincolnshire Live: “It was an aggressive type and I was lucky to find a lump early.”
Lisa was told she would need six rounds of chemotherapy to shrink the tumour before a lumpectomy surgery, followed by radiotherapy and possibly more treatment.
She described the chemotherapy as “tough but manageable” and explained she got through them one by one thanks to the support of her family and the Fighting Fit team.
They are low-impact fitness programmes for people with or recovering from cancer, run by the Lincoln City Foundation.
Lisa Lear at Lincoln City’s LNER Stadium(Image: Lisa Lear)
She said: “I used exercise as a coping mechanism, doing what I could when I could, having been a fit and healthy mum-of-two boys before and determined to stay that way.”
Lisa, who works as a teaching assistant at a primary school, had surgery in January 2025 but required a more targeted chemotherapy treatment as a preventative measure.
She had 12 rounds of this, along with two weeks of radiotherapy over the course of nine months, and also needed regular MRIs for her heart, as this was affected by the treatment.
Lisa said: “I had to be careful, but none of it really stopped me from trying to carry on with my daily activities and enjoyments and my hair started to return also.”
The mum-of-two completed her final round of treatment in November 2025, and in January 2026, she had her first annual mammogram, which was clear and showed no sign of cancer.
Lisa, who lives at RAF Waddington as her husband is an RAF officer, added: “At present, I’m fit and healthy and cancer free, which I am eternally grateful for.”
It was during her second round of chemotherapy at Lincoln Hospital that Lisa became aware of the Fighting Fit sessions after a staff member was handing out leaflets.
Lisa said: “The idea of being able to keep my exercise up throughout treatment filled my ears with joy so I took a leaflet.”
She went to her first session a bit “apprehensive” but says she was “welcomed with open arms and felt right at home straight away.”
The 39-year-old continued: “For once, I felt ‘normal’ amongst lots of people going through similar experiences and I had a new support network.
Lisa will be running the London Marathon 2026(Image: Lisa Lear)
“I had people around me who understood, who listened and advised, who enjoyed exercise like me, but actually what surprised me was how much I came away smiling every single time I went.
“The Fighting Fit programme became a lifeline and a vital part of my treatment plan and beyond.”
Lisa described the programme as “truly life changing” and says it helps reassure her that she would be okay and helps her with her confidence and self-esteem.
She added: “I met some wonderful people, lots of whom I now call friends.
“I have lost several friends from here along the way, which is tough, but they taught us to stay strong and keep fighting, and that’s what I do every single day.
“The Fighting Fit programme has made me feel invincible and ready to take on any challenge that life throws at me.
“It also helped me realise that I could still achieve things even though I had cancer – running being one of those things.”
Lisa is preparing to take part in the 2026 London Marathon later this month, which she says is something she has “always dreamed of” but always felt it was out of reach.
She took part in the Lincoln 10k last year, three months after her lumpectomy surgery and also the Lincoln Half Marathon in October 2025 with a personal best of two hours and 12 minutes.
She ran those races for the Lincoln City Foundation, raising £1107 for the half marathon, and will also be running the marathon for the foundation.
Lisa said: “Although partly terrified at the thought of running a marathon distance, something I’ve never done in my life, I am more excited than anything else.
“The London Marathon is one of the biggest and most popular marathons to run in the world and I have the privilege of running it.
“I’m super proud of my journey so far and that journey will no doubt help me cross that finish line even if I may be in pain and questioning my life choices!
“Knowing I can beat cancer one step at a time, will help me get those 26.2miles done one step at a time.”
She feels that by being able to run for the charity she is able to give back “a fraction of what they’ve given me through their Fighting Fit programme.”
Lisa added: “The Foundation do so much for the Lincoln community and they truly deserve every penny.”