Fck Cancer Buller Half Marathon - Walk to support Pip

Pips Story

It was 2 years ago yesterday that i found a lump in the top of the left breast, I was putting on sunscreen. I didn't want to think about worse case scenario so decided to just keep an eye on it and see what happened, nearly 3 weeks later it was still there, I told Jamie, he made an apt for me just in case I didn't do it, we went together. The GP was really uninterested, didn't even want to refer me for a mammogram, Jamie insisted so he did refer me.

I went to Greymouth a week later for a mammogram. I knew something was wrong when the mammography asked me to go back in for more images, I had 6 more scans. She eventually came out with my file an asked me to go down to the radiology dept with it where a breast care Dr and nurse were waiting, I went down, had an ultra sound and it revealed an abnormality. The Dr held my hand and told me he was 99% sure it was cancer but to be 100% I would need a biopsy to confirm, they did a punch biopsy then and there.

It was Buller Anniversary weekend so I had to wait an extra day for the results..seemed like a lifetime. I went to the GP on January 30th 2017, it was invasive ductal carcinoma with lymph node involvement. It had branched out and was trying to attack my blood, nodes, organs etc, it was HER 2 positive and estrogen receptive. I had an operation on the 20th Feb to remove the tumor, a portion of my breast, my sentinel lymph node and 2 other nodes from my left armpit/top of the arm. It was then 26 treatments of chemo, treatments every 3 weeks and 6 weeks of radiation treatment.

The chemo destroyed my veins, my hair fell out, nails fell off, taste buds died, I had shingles 3 times, endless mouth ulcers, hospitalization for dehydration and infections, the list goes on. My left arm no longer functions properly it cant control temperature if clear fluid due to the node removal so it overheats and swells and have to wear a compression sleeve.

In my last check they found an enlarged age red node high in left armpit, unfortunately its lying directly on a main artery, it has to be removed but the risk of bleeding out and either dieing or loosing my arm is huge so it has to be done by a team. I'm waiting to hear when and where it will happen.

My girls have been the biggest motivation to fight this battle. Islas 11 and Maizie is 6 the thought of leaving them has made me stronger than I ever thought I could be, leaving them is not an option!

I Got married to my partner Jamie Easter 2018, we had been together for 9 years and it just seemed like why wait any longer!! We had planned to wait until after treatment had finished but that seemed like too long to wait, so 2 days after we got married I had another round of chemo. The honeymoon had to wait until September but that was the most amazing experience, beautiful Rarotonga was a hard place to leave.

While having chemo I told myself at each treatment that I would walk the Buller half, no matter what the outcome of treatment one way or another doing it has been my goal. I'm in training, have entered and with the support of the amazing Aimee Hayes and Evolve Gym we will now be making the walk an event.

Raising funds for The Buller Woman's Health Fund as they helped me during my journey with the most amazing support, Megan Cummings is a facilitator and shes amazing beyond words, the most helpful non judgmental lady, would give you the shirt off her back.

we invite anyone to join us, we welcome you all

Thank you all so Much for your support

Phillipa xoxo