Lauryn’s story:
“Seeing the Pink Campervan was the push I needed to see a doctor”
Lauryn was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2024, at the age of 57. The mother of five, who lives in rural Marlborough, had noticed a suspicious change in her breast. It was only thanks to a chance encounter with the nurse educators on our Pink Campervan that Lauryn was able to get an early diagnosis. Lauryn’s story shows how the education and advice provided by our nurses truly does save lives.
I was driving into town for a cervical screening appointment and had been thinking about making a mammogram appointment too while I was there. I’d been feeling a strange twinge in my breast and had wondered whether it was worth getting checked out.
As I turned the corner, I saw a great big, bright pink campervan. It was parked up at Four Square, in the space where I usually park to buy my milk – you couldn’t miss it. And I thought, well if that’s not a sign then what is.
I went over and met the nurses in the campervan. I told them about the funny little twinge in my breast. No matter what bra I wore, it felt like it was digging in and when I lay on my side it was really uncomfortable. I said I didn’t know if it was worth following up because I couldn’t feel a lump. The nurses told me if it wasn’t normal for me, I should see a doctor.
My doctor had a good look and feel, and she wasn’t concerned. She told me to come back in four weeks if it was still bothering me. I waited two weeks, and I was still worried about it so I went back and insisted I should get a mammogram. I had learnt from the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ nurses that this wasn’t my normal, so something had to be done about it.
A mammogram revealed a small but aggressive lump – I had a 5mm, grade 3 hormone positive tumour. No cancer was found in my lymph nodes, so I was lucky it hadn’t spread. I was so thankful that I didn’t need to lose my whole breast or have chemotherapy.
Seeing the Pink Campervan was the push I needed to see a doctor. Because I didn’t have a lump, I didn’t think much of the breast twinge. But when I saw the campervan, I knew I couldn’t ignore the big shiny sign being waved right in my face. There was a reason for it being there.
I was up to date with my mammograms and wasn’t due one for another year. So if I’d have left it until then, it probably would have been too late.
Until you end up affected by it, you don’t think cancer will happen to you. But breast cancer is so widespread, the best thing if you are going to get it is to find out early. I want people to know what a difference it’s made for me because it could also make a difference for them.
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