You can make sure no one faces cancer alone!
Every year, over 27,000 New Zealanders will receive the devastating news: “You’ve got cancer.” When cancer feels overwhelming, you can provide the practical and emotional support that patients and their families need. Please make your donation today.
Ella’s Story: A shock breast cancer diagnosis at 29 years old
“I got my diagnosis on Friday and my flights [to move overseas] were on the Monday. I'd given up my job, my flat, I’d even sold all my belongings…”
29-year-old Ella was preparing for an overseas trip of a lifetime when she noticed a suspicious lump on her breast that changed everything.
“The first thing the [doctors] said was ‘you have breast cancer’.”
It was terrible timing, forcing Ella to cancel her flights to Canada, and instead move in with her parents and begin gruelling chemotherapy treatment.
“I lost my hair, eyebrows, and even eyelashes. I think for a woman, in particular, that's really difficult.”
“…I was on a chemo drug commonly referred to as the Red Devil. It was horrible. It was nausea to the point where no matter how many pills you are taking, like 30 pills a day, it's still making you feel really unwell. And the fatigue is unreal. It was really, really tough.”
After chemotherapy, Ella needed surgery to remove what was left of the cancer, followed by a series of radiation treatments. While preparing for radiation, Ella realised the immense toll it would take to travel the long distance from her parent’s home to the hospital each day for 4 weeks.
Without reliable transport or support, thanks to you, Ella was given an incredible opportunity to shift her treatment down to Hamilton where she could use our Cancer Society Lodge.
“Staying at the Cancer Society Lodge changed a month of my life and made it a lot easier.”
“I spoke to so many people in the Lodge who wouldn't have had access to their treatment if they had not had the Lodge available to them.
It changes the whole experience, so supporting Cancer Society is an amazing cause.
If you can, donate some money. It’s not just a number in a bank account, [when you donate] it’s making a tangible difference to people’s lives.”
When you donate to the Cancer Society, you’re ensuring cancer patients like Ella have a safe, comfortable place to stay while receiving their treatment. You're also ensuring cancer patients can access free nursing support, counselling, transport to treatment, and more.
We can't do it alone. Please, make a donation today.
