Are we ever fully done with cancer?

I'm in the awful realm of cancerversary time which brings with its trusty sidekick scanxiety. June 2018 was when it all started for me, the tests, confirmation of cancer in my right breast, the feeling my life had changed. As much as I try to 'get on with life' the nagging feeling of 'what if it's not OK' is always sitting in the background.

Once you've had a cancer diagnosis it's very hard to trust your body, trust any test results will be clear of cancer. I find myself putting off blood tests - any test really - because I'm scared the results might indicate the dreaded C word has returned.

There was a distinct theme of cancer never fully going away in the episodes of The C Word: Kiwis Talk About Cancer aired over the past few weeks. For my guest Michelle Treadaway-Ohia, even 25 years later the fear of reoccurrence remains.

Catch up on the episodes below and come say hi on Facebook and Instagram. I'd love to know how you cope with your cancerversary.

Michelle

Twenty two years ago Michelle Treadaway-Ohia was grieving the loss of a pregnancy when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her doctor told her the prognosis wasn't good and to prepare for the worst. Michelle joins me to talk about how her cancer experience impacted her and her journey to getting her moko kauae.

She shared the shock she felt being diagnosed with breast cancer so soon after losing her baby. And the gratitude for for friends and whanau as they rallied around her as she embarked on surgery and chemotherapy.

Michelle was told it was unlikely she'd have anymore children because the chemo can cause infertility. But against the odds Michelle fell pregnant with her second daughter not long after finishing radiation!

We shared stories about losing our hair, dealing with chemo side effects and laughed at some of the hilarious mishaps we have with our breast prosthesis.

Michelle talks about the decision to get her moko kauae (a traditional Māori tattoo for women/ wāhine Māori) and the freedom she has felt since getting it.

Waka Huia episode click here

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Music track: Happy Days by Scott Holmes

Waiata: Ka piata te wairua (Pania Papa)

Cancer Sitting On My Shoulder

In this episode of The C Word, we welcome inspirational guest Molly Rowlandson and her journey with cancer.

Molly was only 22 years old when she found lumps in her throat and around her ear. She was also feeling very tired which was a very uncommon feeling for her, given she was such an active person. After visiting the doctor, Molly found out she had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and immediately thought she was going to die.

Because of movies like My Sister’s Keeper and similar, she instantly related cancer with death. Molly speaks with us about the terrifying experience that it was to face cancer at such a young age, an experience that also made her grow up a lot quicker. She went through 9 months of chemotherapy and to this day has many joint issues to deal with.

Molly also shares a bit about the anxious moments she felt, how she didn’t want to stop chemo because she was so afraid of relapsing. That of course is an old Molly, because she now completely trusts her body, the world, the universe, herself, and completely enjoys life. She learned to move one.

To listen to Molly and her band, visit https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Wap3IvFzYwkKSGZI7YxOJ. You can also find them on Facebook @Mollyandthechromatics,

If you would like to support The C Word, visit www.ko-fi.com/thecword. You can also find us on Instagram @thecword_radio and Facebook www.facebook.com/The-C-Word-Kiwis-talk-about-cancer-105425417907685

Music: Happy Days, Scott Holmes

Molly & the Chromatics

Sometimes Cancer is A Gift

Welcome to another episode of The C Word! As usual, our goal is to reach as many people as we can who have either survived cancer or are currently battling, you are not alone!

Today, guest Sacha Coburn will be sharing with us her experience with breast cancer, how it was like in 2009 when she found a lump on her breast, and how it feels like now. Sacha loved to play tennis and was living a very busy time, when she felt this “bump” on her breast, never would she have imagined it was a tumor, she immediately related the bump with a muscle ache from playing tennis.

It wasn’t much later that Sacha realized she had the C word.

Sacha will be telling us all of the things that annoyed her, like listening to people say that she survived cancer because she was a “positive person”, when in reality she believes surviving is just dumb luck.

We will also be discussing how much you can deal with, why there is no right way to live with cancer, the impact of self-motivation, the physical effects that cancer takes on your body, and also some of the positiveness that comes from fighting cancer, Sacha, for instance, got a lot closer to her mother which has been amazing for her, and has also found a true passion in helping people who are going through the same.

For more information on Sacha, visit her website www.thecompanyyoukeep.co.nz, or on Instagram @sachacoburn. You can also listen to her podcast The Not So Breakfast Show at www.buzzsprout.com/1426954

If you would like to support The C Word, visit www.ko-fi.com/thecword. You can also find us on Instagram @thecword_radio and Facebook www.facebook.com/The-C-Word-Kiwis-talk-about-cancer-105425417907685

Music 'Happy Days' Scott Holmes

Brain Cancer in Your 30s

Welcome to another episode of the C Word! This weeks guest can only be described as awesome.

Kate Coatsworth had just turned 33 when the intrepid Kiwi moved to Sydney to expand her horizons. Not long after she arrived Kate started experiencing horrific headaches.

Thinking it was an injury after falling from a paddle board she tried physical therapy. When her symptoms took a turn for the worst Kate found herself in hospital undergoing numerous tests. Never in her wildest imagination did she think she'd hear the words 'you have stage 4 brain cancer'.

Kate was a few months out the other side of treatment when she embarked on a huge trek the length of the North Island of New Zealand with a group of supporters. She did the walk to raise awareness for Brain Tumour Support NZ and raised over $50,000 for the charity.

The former youth worker talks candidly about the emotional impact of knowing your cancer is likely to come back and the challenge of rebuilding life post treatment.

Kate shares her experience of her epic walk and what it's like to be diagnosed with stage four brain cancer in your 30s.

The C Word: Kiwis Talk About Cancer is a podcast for people who want real conversations about cancer. Hosted by Helen King, breast cancer survivor and former journalist, guests share how cancer has impacted their lives.

Helen's links

Support the C Word on Ko-Fi https://ko-fi.com/thecword Facebook https://www.facebook.com/The-C-Word-Kiwis-talk-about-cancer-105425417907685 Instagram thecword_radio

More info on Brain Tumour Support - https://www.braintumoursupport.org.nz/beating-the-track Music 'Happy Days' Scott Holmes