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Meet Jess
Jess was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at age 29.
She is a high school teacher, who enjoys crafting, whānau trips and has a cat.
Jess explains “I wasn’t actively feeling for lumps. But I was washing and felt something strange. Everyone kept saying, ‘you’re so young, it’s very unlikely to be cancer.’ Thankfully, I knew what was normal for my breasts and what wasn’t.”
“I was told, because of my age, diagnostic tests weren’t a high priority. Instead of waiting six weeks, I chose to pay for these privately instead. I’m so glad we did, because it was already 2.5cm when I found it – aggressive and fast growing.”
She began to lose her hair, gain 20 kilos, suffer extreme fatigue, crippling financial strain and the angst of potentially never having children. And yet, Jess knows that if she’d found her lump any later, she would have faced a much tougher journey.
After losing her hair and gaining weight through chemo, Jess’s self-esteem took a big hit. Then came the sense of betrayal that her body could no longer do the simplest of tasks, like washing her hair or getting milk from the supermarket.
“I’d be in so much pain I’d have to lie down in the store. Not being able to walk was really life-changing for me.”
“We also had to think about fertility preservation, which we chose not to do because it was going to delay treatment even further. We had to consider the possibility of a future without kids, or a future without me.”
Throughout it all – the chemo, lumpectomy, radiotherapy and breast lymphoedema – Jess had no choice but to keep working. It was an added layer of overwhelm that made everything so much harder. But as Jess says, she ‘couldn’t afford’ to be emotional.
“The bills don’t care that you get cancer. I had to work because the alternative is going into an obscene amount of debt or losing that ability to provide for your future once you’re out the other side. It was a huge stressor for me.”
Jess’s message is clear: “My daily routine saved my life. So, I encourage you all to check your breasts as part of your daily routine.”
Jess, diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at age 29.
You can help us reach more young women
$75
Will ensure more young women, like Jess, can call an experienced breast nurse specialist if she’s worried about a symptom she’s experiencing.
$96
Will help fund educational resources to be delivered to communities nationwide.
$112
Will ensure breast cancer education sessions will continue in our communities, with our nurse educators delivering life-saving messages to the young women in our lives.
