Tauranga woman Nicky Morrison was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 40. Photo / Supplied
Tauranga woman Nicky Morrison was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 40. Photo / Supplied
Breast cancer survivor Nicky Morrison says she has gained more from her cancer journey than she has lost.
The 42-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago after she "just happened to go for a mammogram".
"I didn't feel a lump. Even when I knew where it was, Icouldn't feel it. It was so small but had already spread. The timing was pretty lucky."
While her life changed, "a lot of positives" had come with the hard times.
Morrison is now taking part in the 100ks in 30 days challenge - a fundraising campaign for the Breast Cancer Support Service Tauranga Trust. The trust, which provides emotional and practical support for breast cancer patients, aims to raise between $30,000 and $50,000 from the event.
The trust said charitable funding was scarce and it had to abandon many events last year due to Covid-19.
The 30-day challenge started on May 1 and those who signed up will traverse 100km either by foot, on water, or on wheels such as bikes, wheelchairs or scooters.
Nicky Morrison plans to walk 3km per day and row in the Boobops dragonboating team to reach her 100km goal in May. Photo / Supplied
After having surgery and radiation, Morrison now takes preventative treatment for breast cancer.
Some days were "definitely more challenging than others", but activity helped, she said.
"Getting out and walking every day definitely makes a difference so that's why doing the 100km in 30 days is a really good motivator for me ... because I know that I feel so much better after I've done some activity."
She planned to walk at least 3km per day and was part of the Boobops dragon boat team - a team of breast cancer survivors - so she would count her kilometres on the water too.
Morrison was doing the challenge with several family members and a friend. Everyone in the team would try to do 100km each, with a team goal of 500km, she said.
Because she was diagnosed during the pandemic, her family overseas could not come and support her during her treatment.
She said the fundraiser was a "great way" for them to raise money for those who did support her and "give back" to the community.
Breast Cancer Support Service Tauranga Trust manager Helen Alice said the money raised would be used to provide emotional and practical support services to those with breast cancer in the Western Bay of Plenty.
She said 250 people had signed up for the challenge, and people could still sign up.
Alice said the trust tried to spread its fundraising throughout the year and with having to cancel the "nude dude swim" and the Pāpāmoa Hills night walk, May seemed like a good option for the event "as we still get some good weather".
Nicky's journey with breast cancer
After Morrison was diagnosed in 2020, she underwent surgery and four weeks of daily radiation.
"We caught it as early ... as we could have and I was pretty lucky that we did catch it then."
She has been taking a preventative treatment for one and a half years, which is part of a five or 10-year journey.
"I have a monthly injection to suppress my oestrogen levels and a daily pill, and then two other pills to combat all the side effects of those pills."
Tauranga woman Nicky Morrison was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 40. Photo / Supplied
When she was diagnosed, she reached out to the trust because she wanted to know what she was facing and "to learn as much about it as possible".
"So I devoured lots of books to just read about other people's stories and try to get an idea of what was ahead of me."
She said the trust provided "many opportunities" to connect with other breast cancer patients.
"Your life does change, but there are still a lot of positives ... I feel like I've gained more from this journey than I've lost."
