For Rotorua's Kevin Godwin, having cancer was a challenge but the bigger challenge is living with the effects of his treatment.
In May last year, Mr Godwin visited his doctor about pain in his chest. It was thought to be caused by an infection, but the pain didn't go away with antibiotics and Mr Godwin was soon having trouble swallowing food.
A return trip to the doctor resulted in an endoscopy at the hospital and on June 18, Mr Godwin was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.
His wife, Lyn, said it was a scary time for both of them.
"I lost my first husband to cancer that had spread to his bones. I didn't want to go through that again with Kevin."
After a nine-week course of chemotherapy, which shrank the tumour to 1.5cm, Mr Godwin underwent a 10-hour surgery removing the rest of the tumour, along with part of his oesophagus and stomach.
He spent 10 days in hospital recovering after the surgery. "The doctors said recovery would be longer but I pushed myself. I wanted to be home for Christmas." Despite enduring gruelling chemotherapy, Mr Godwin said the most challenging part of the journey was living with a stomach less than half the size it had been.
"Over six months later and it is still a huge struggle. There is still a lack of co-ordination between my stomach and brain. My stomach gets full before my brain registers that I'm full so I keep eating and get sick.
"It's just changed our whole lives. We can't really go out for meals anymore because I can barely eat an entree."
The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society has been helping Mr and Mrs Godwin come to terms with these changes.
"The support since we moved to Rotorua has been amazing," Mr Godwin said.
The Cancer Society liaison nurse offered the couple emotional support and practical information, and organised free counselling for them.
"She was amazing. The first time we met her she knew what support we needed and organised it straight away," Mr Godwin said.
Despite everything they have been through, Mr and Mrs Godwin said the experience had brought them and their family closer together.
The Cancer Society is a charitable organisation which receives no direct government funding, relying on the generosity of New Zealanders to operate. To donate to the Cancer Society's Daffodil Day appeal go to www.daffodilday.org.nz, text 'daffodil' to 305 or visit any ANZ. Daffodil Day is August 29.