Swimming Through Challenges: Cathy Munro’s Inspiring Journey
22 Sep 2025
At Winchester City Swimming Club, we celebrate the resilience, strength, and spirit of our swimmers. Cathy Munro, a dedicated member of our Masters Programme, shares her remarkable story of courage and perseverance. Diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer just after competing at the Ice World Swimming Championships, Cathy continued to swim through her treatment, finding strength and solace in the water. Her journey highlights how swimming not only keeps her physically active but also provides vital mental resilience and a sense of normalcy. Her inspiring dedication reminds us all of the healing power of swimming and the incredible community that supports us every stroke of the way.
I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in February this year, just after swimming at the Ice World Swimming Championships. Where despite feeling a tad tired I won 1 gold and 3 silvers!
"Swimming has kept me feeling more normal, being part of the Masters Programme at Winchester City Swimming Club has meant a lot, keeping me physically & mentally strong."
I had worked out something was wrong, was pretty sure what (I’m a retired A&E Dr), despite being reassured by one doctor that I was OK. Luckily, I realised I needed a proper review & care of my GP managed to then get a relatively speedy diagnosis. After a plethora of investigations the team at Winchester recommended TNT, total neo-adjuvant treatment. This has been pretty intensive, with both chemotherapy (CAPOX for those who know) and chemo-radiation therapy. I have however managed to keep swimming through it all.
Swimming has kept me feeling more normal, being part of the Masters Programme at Winchester City Swimming Club has meant a lot, keeping feeling physically & mentally strong. My club mates (they still exist as you get older) particularly help psychologically. Plus, when you feel angry with the world you can take it out on the water, but then realise you have to be smooth, be smart, work with the water to swim well. It’s incredibly cathartic.
Chemotherapy was hard, it left its mark, I haven’t always felt like training, but the alarm goes off and up I get. My hands and feet suffered, my skin generally, my eyes too and I often very tired (though not so much in the early morning). Despite the scepticism of my oncologist, the icing therapy stopped the hypersensitivity to cooler temperatures, he was sure even the swimming pool would be too cold for me to manage. Napping too enabled me to cope.
"Exercise is now known to improve survival outcomes; it is one of the key ways you can load the dice in your favour."
My husband Rick has also played a vital part, taking on many of the tasks I did to keep family life ticking over. Now I am getting over the TNT I am back doing most things and finally able to open water swim too (as less immunocompromised). I have even taken part in a 3km race in Loch Lomond, winning the veteran category and coming 4th woman, 7th overall.
I had a charity place and have raised some £2000 for Macmillan. I currently feel well, recent scans have indicated a very good response, such that I may even not absolutely need surgery, I will know more in October. Exercise is now known to improve survival outcomes; it is one of the key ways you can load the dice in your favour.
"The water itself is very healing for me."
Such that even at stage 3 I can hope for cure. Being in the water itself is very healing for me. You have to work with it to swim well, the water envelopes you, no distractions, just connect, pull hard, breathe, be smooth, aim for good consistent times, work hard and then enjoy the chat in the showers."
Cathy Munro
Masters swimmer
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