Cancer Society Nelson Tasman nailed its support for Tania O’Donnell since she was diagnosed with the prevalent cancer affecting women in Aotearoa in 2016.
The ITM Nelson administrator and her team “Nailed It” consisting of other ITM workmates and Scott Construction will be going hammer and tongs at Relay For Life on 14 and 15 March to build funds for the “game changer” organisation.
A large, aggressive tumour in her left breast was detected just eight months after Tania had a clear mammogram.
What followed was a “cocktail of medications”, chemotherapy and radiation that she describes as an emotional disruption.
“You do put things on pause, because I’m married it makes you think about if the worst comes to the worst, we can sell the house, we can sell some assets, are you going to be able to keep working?”
She considers herself fortunate her treatment was manageable when compared with the experiences of many other women she has met.
“One of the things that maybe people don't understand so much is it can be quite triggering down the track. I can talk about it, no problem, and then all of a sudden, it just gets you emotional again, so I don’t like that side of it.”
Tania had a lumpectomy and lymph node removal, and because her cancer was estrogen positive, she has been on estrogen blocker medication for eight and a half years.
She must stay on it until mid–2027.
“It would be nice not to be on medication… for a person who's been healthy their whole life, this is a really big blip,” she says.
She now undergoes bone density scans every two years due to the medication’s side effects, compounded by being post–menopausal.
Tania also had melanoma taken from her thigh last year.
Throughout the journey no one wishes to take, she says Cancer Society Nelson Tasman’s toolkit, particularly its Breast and Gynae Cancer Support Group had been a weapon.
“Everyone knows the Cancer Society, but it wasn’t until I went through my own cancer, all these little support groups and things that can help you was really quite an eye opener,” she says.
“Having the support group was great… it was more for connecting with people and just knowing that they are there, and the presentations and speakers they might have tell you another part of what you might be going through psychologically, emotionally, or sometimes physically.
“Even though all my chemo and everything happened quite a few years ago, there's still something that you learn every time.”
Relay For Life takes place at the Richmond A&P Showgrounds from 4pm on 14 March to 8am on 15 March, and Tania and her team won’t be obscure in their hi-vis.
She hopes the importance of Cancer Society Nelson Tasman donations through the fundraising event doesn’t also go unnoticed by the community.
“Get in behind the Relay For Life… [Cancer Society Nelson Tasman] is fulfilling a need, so [the public need] to fundraise to keep propping them up so that they can keep supporting,” she says.
Her team plans to build an outdoor kitchen bench during the event to be raffled off, and a barbecue table provided by ITM staff from Tākaka will also be in the draw.
Tania will also attend the Survivors and Carers Celebration Afternoon Tea before the 4pm start and take part in the Survivor and Carers Celebration Lap.
Visit: nelsontasman.relayforlife.org.nz to donate.
