When 52-year old Sandy Jahnke crested the last rise of her hike and saw the foggy ruins of Macchu Picchu up close for the first time, she didn’t attempt to hold back from crying.

Neither did the six other Flathead women with whom she was trekking. The tears flowed freely as the seven cancer survivors reached the peak of their hike.

Only a year and a half ago, Jahnke was completing chemotherapy, beating extremely aggressive ovarian cancer for a second time.

“The big thing was getting my health back,” she said. “This last time I was totally ready to do a marathon. I found out two weeks before the race that the cancer had returned.”

It gutted her. Stage 3-C ovarian cancer has just a 39 percent five-year survival rate, and here it was back again.

After intense treatment, the cancer was beaten again. Jahnke’s friend, Cyndi Heath, whom she met in a cancer-survivor support group, invited her out with a hiking group.

The group, PIKA (Partners In Keeping Active), traveled to Peru in late June and early July.

Each of the seven women had survived cancer at least once. Along with Jahnke and Heath, Pat Freebury, Sue Haugan, Paula Edsall, Cindy Freeman and Naine Van Helden made the trek.

Now that they’re back in the Flathead Valley, the women want others to know that life can continue after cancer.

“The hardest part of fighting cancer was living after cancer,” said Heath, a mantle-cell lymphoma survivor. “I battled deep depression and anxiety. That’s all behind me now.”

She recalls being atop the peak when Jahnke hiked up. When the latter was rediagnosed with cancer, Heath said she honestly didn’t think her friend would live. As she reached the highest point of the trek, it was understandably emotional for everyone.

The oldest member of the trek, 76-year old Freebury, almost didn’t come to Peru. Hip and knee problems left her in doubt until just four days before the flight.

“My issue was can I do this and not ruin it for the girls,” said Freebury, a breast cancer survivor. “But with their encouragement, my doctor’s encouragement and my husband’s encouragement, I finally convinced myself I can do this.”

Freebury became a celebrity on the hike, and people who spotted her would cheer her on. She took photos with an 11-year old Swiss girl, likely the oldest and youngest people hiking to see Macchu Picchu.

“I got strangers talking to me as I went up,” she said. “Everyone on the mountain knew the old lady coming up the trail. I got so much stronger as the days went on.”

The hike itself was grueling, the women said. They didn’t even have time to appreciate the surrounding countryside as they struggled in high elevations. The worst stretch was heading over the ominously named “Dead Woman’s Pass.”

“It was the hardest day mentally, physically and emotionally. Just really hard,” Haugan said. “You just took six steps and had to stop and breathe.”

Haugan, also a breast cancer survivor, said the Peru trip was symbolic of living after cancer.

“You fight and you look for a goal,” she said. “Find something you are passionate about. My passion for photography increased as well. I’m thankful for every day. I praise the Lord every day.”

The seven women used the Inca Trail Trekking Co. on their four-day hike. A guide and porters escorted the women up the trail and a chef would make a fire and cook in a tent every night. This included bringing a bottle of wine and baking a cake for one of the women’s birthdays.

“I was just worried about the food,” Jahnke said. “I have had trouble keeping weight on after chemo and was afraid it might be something I wouldn’t like. It was the most amazing food.”

Despite fatigue, joint pain and high elevation, each woman completed their journey to the cloudy Inca ruin of Macchu Picchu.

“The bond I have with these girls is amazing,” Haugan said. “Doing that with them? We encourage each other every day.”

For the survivors, letting others diagnosed with cancer know they can set goals and reach them is one of the most important things they do each day.

“Our whole purpose is just to tell people there is still life after cancer,” Heath said.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.