It’s me. Hi 
The one who turned her family’s world upside down at 2pm on Friday, 12th December. The one who is now a statistic - one of the 10 women diagnosed every day in NZ. The one who has had to tell her children she has breast cancer 
It’s been four months, and I still cry every time I think of what is to come, or say to myself, “I have breast cancer.” Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be walking this road, but here I am - here we are - Ryan, Amber & Max, having to navigate this horrible journey 
Many of us think that we are safe and assume “it won’t happen to me,” but as confronting as this is, cancer doesn’t care if you are fit and healthy. Cancer doesn’t care if you have no family history. Cancer certainly does not care if you are not 45+.
All of these apply to me, and I feel extremely unlucky to be one who has drawn the short straw. But in the same breath, I feel incredibly lucky that it was found by accident. If I hadn’t listened to my body, if I had waited for routine screening at 45, my story would look very different. We possibly wouldn’t be fighting to cure me, but fighting to survive.
Although my cancer has been caught early, the last four months have still involved multiple scans and biopsies, a four and a half hour surgery, with another one this week to remove lymph nodes, followed by months of chemo, radiation, and hormone therapy. So catching it early doesn’t necessarily mean you are let off easy
As someone who has had support from the Breast Cancer Foundation and the Cancer Society since the day I was diagnosed, the Pink Ribbon Appeal is something very close to my heart. The support this community provides for women like me, and for families facing this difficult journey, is overwhelming. Every dollar donated helps fund research and treatment, and provides counselling and support for families in need.
My journey has only just started, but as I head into my second surgery, I hope this post helps raise awareness. If you aren’t in a position to donate, that’s ok - but do me a favour: ladies, check your boobies, listen to your body, and please don’t think you are invincible. Cancer does not discriminate
For my family - I’ll keep fighting every step of the way for you… our story is far from over
To be continued….
*photo 8 days post 1 surgery of Lumpectomy and removal of some Lymph Nodes.
💞