Sharon's Fight For Survival

In 2010 Sharon was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. She was fit, healthy, didn't smoke or drink and had no family history. Despite this devastating diagnosis, she was determined not to let it beat her and she underwent a Mastectomy, an axillary clearance of lymph nodes and reconstruction surgery. After 6 weeks of healing, she began a gruelling 6 months of Chemotherapy. The cancer was so aggressive she had to have treatment every fortnight instead of a 3 weekly cycle. Following that, a 5 week treatment plan of daily radiation in Hamilton where she had to stay, away from her husband and children in Tauranga. Once home from this, daily hormone treatment with Tamoxifen which continued for the next 7 years.

Fast forward to September 2017 and Sharon became unwell. Working in an Early Childhood Centre, we all thought it was a viral infection but after 3 GP visits and a chest x-ray she was told there was an abnormality and a lung full of fluid. The lung was drained only to have it fill again a few days later. Further testing lead to the devastating diagnosis that the cancer had returned and was now in both lungs and her liver as well as on the edge of her breast implant.

The diagnosis - Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. Sharon had to endure major surgery in Waikato Hospital to glue her lung to her chest wall to prevent fluid build up. She was placed on daily Letrozole and Zoledex via implant to suppress the oestrogen her body produces so it didn't feed the tumours.

Christmas Eve 2017 Sharon's Oncologist broke the news to her that the treatment wasn't working. that after only 3 rounds they would have to stop this treatment due to the terrible side effects and the fact that the tumours were continuing to grow. 1 January 2018 Sharon started back on Chemotherapy to contain the cancer and Zometa every 3 months which is a bone strengthener to protect them from the cancer.

Sharon is no quitter and decided she would put her energy toward fighting this disease rather than feeling sorry for herself. She has done a huge amount of research and with her Oncologist's approval, continues with the Chemotherapy but has radically changed her diet to a strictly no sugar, no dairy, low carb diet with a range of supplements that cancer hates. Sharon's blood results are showing remarkable improvement and her Oncologist continues to encourage this plan.

Unfortunately, Sharon is no longer able to work as a teacher as the Chemotherapy has compromised her immunity. She and her husband Wayne are very proud people but they are now in an almost impossible financial situation trying to continue the fight to keep Sharon well.

Please help provide financial assistance so that Sharon can continue to fight.