While Cromwell woman Anthea Lawrence does not subscribe to having the "C" word — she refers to it as rogue cells — she has been receiving treatment since being diagnosed in early June.
When first diagnosed, Mrs Lawrence was informed it had already spread to her lungs, liver, lymph and breast and she would need to undergo 18 weeks of chemotherapy.
The women’s midlife coach approached the illness head on, working with an oncological naturopath, cutting out alcohol and changing her diet as well as a lot of positive mind work.
"I don't subscribe to having the ‘C word’. So I didn't want anything regarding it," she said.
"I laughed the whole way through. I found a silver lining — like, I wanted to go grey gracefully, so you know, losing my hair was brilliant ... I wanted to lose some weight — done that," she joked.
Now, most of her tumours have since gone, or reduced considerably.
"Most of the time ... I forget that it's even around, but I'm still under care. I've still got to look after myself and what not, but I feel amazing and I guess I wanted to bring a bit more attention to it, that [for] women in midlife that one of the symptoms of menopause, perimenopause can be similar."
Mrs Lawrence has made a "spur of the moment" decision to hold an "almost 5km" Pink Ribbon Walk from the Cromwell Yacht Club to Pinot Junction in Old Cromwell tomorrow to raise funds for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
"I wanted to just show that even though it's still there, I can still get out and about and help out and bring awareness," she said.
"The Breast Cancer Foundation, they do a huge amount of work and support for people, so I just want to help out other women who might be in a similar situation."
The foundation hosts Pink Ribbon Walks during October — Breast Cancer Awareness month — in Auckland and Christchurch.
The walk would be a casual "meandering" along the lake starting at 9am.
There was no need to register — but participants had to wear pink and give to the Breast Cancer Foundation online, she said.
Mrs Lawrence anticipated it would take about an hour to reach Pinot Junction, where people could then stay and have a coffee and scone — or a mimosa.
"I think it's just fun," she said.
Pinot Junction would also give a percentage of its takings to the Breast Cancer Foundation.
