I had flash backs after the surgery. So it was good to have someone come and talk to us from the Cancer Society.
Janelle
I’m Janelle and my mum Bernadette and I were both diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. Mum found it first – after a routine mammogram found a large lump. Shortly after that I went to my GP with sore breasts. I was sent for a mammogram and biopsy.
We had our mastectomies and lymph node removal within two months of each other. It was a really scary time and we were glad we could support each other through it. I had flash backs after the surgery. So it was good to have someone come and talk to us from the Cancer Society. It was quite an emotional time – they helped explain things and offered practical support.
Mum and I both had cording and had to see a physio. It was painful. We couldn’t lift our arms to hang up washing. Exercises have helped but we still live with the nerve damage on our chest- it feels numb. We’re just thankful that we are both still alive.
30 Stories for 30 Years
In 2020 the Cancer Society celebrated the 30th anniversary of Daffodil Day.
It also marked a 30 year relationship with ANZ as the Principal Sponsor of Daffodil Day. We want to thank the team at ANZ for their amazing support.
To acknowledge this we found 30+ people to tell their story. These stories talk about the generosity of everyday New Zealanders making a difference for people with cancer. They talk about the effect of cancer on people and on whānau, they talk about hope, and they talk about the work we do here at the Cancer Society.
