Going pink before losing it! For Breast Cancer Foundation NZ

Moving to Auckland looking for change and new challenges, I never imagined that following 3 1/2 months in lockdown I would be diagnosed with breast cancer from my first mammogram. A cancer diagnosis is something no one wants to hear.

I am lucky. It was a small tumour and not aggressive. The initial suggestion was for follow up treatment of radiation. No sweat!

Following surgery, with 1 lymph node showing cancerous cells, suggested treatment suddenly changed to include chemo as well. It took a bit to get my head around this change of game plan, chemo and all it entails. It has been a time of some uncertainty and at times overwhelm, accentuated by the cautions and procedures put in place due to covid. It has sometimes felt like I have lost control of what I can do, life is dictated to by the 3 'c's'.

I am ready to go through this chemotherapy journey. The likelihood of losing your hair from chemo is high. I want to take some control back and have some fun by cutting my hair to a new style, bleaching it and colouring it pink and enjoying it as long it lasts! Once upon a time my Mum told me never to bleach my hair (or get a tattoo). Well I figure seeing as I'm going to lose my hair why not do something crazy for a good cause. (Sorry Mum!) Funds donated will go to Breast Cancer Foundation NZ who provide early detection education, support those with breast cancer, and fund research & medical grants and advocacy with a vision of zero deaths from breast cancer.