FANCY's Breast Cancer Journey

My name is Frances Titore-McLean aka Fancy

I am a 36 year old solo mother of 4 beautiful children, based in Whangarei, New Zealand.

I first discovered a lump in my right breast in February 2022.

Because of my history of developing similar symptoms in the past, my doctor diagnosed it as a cyst caused by circumstantial stress and prescribed counselling and blood tests.

Within one month, the lump grew exponentially, which concerned my doctor, who booked me in for a mammogram.

Monday 13 June 2022, I was diagnosed with aggressive Stage 3 Breast Cancer and Cancer of the Lymph Nodes.

Currently now, my experience is aggressive T3N1 high grade micropapillary Breast Cancer Stage 4.

Historically, I am the third generation to go through this experience of cancer.

Seeing the adverse effects that chemo and radiation treatment had upon other family members, I have opted to not include those in my treatment plan.

My journey with cancer since June 2022 has been very challenging.

I have had to navigate the added emotional and financial stress this has burdened me with.

All while maintaining the domestic needs of my whanau alone as a sole parent.

My goal is to strengthen my body using a balance of Western medicine and rongoā Māori.

To ensure I can continue to stand here and well into the future with and for all four of my babies.

A special thank you to Hospice Tikipunga for your kind, caring services and to all who support me on my journey.

Ngā mihi

Fancy