“It’s already stage 4.”

As a nurse, those are words I will never forget hearing inside the Emergency Department.

I remember looking after a woman in her 40s who had just received a cancer diagnosis. She had two small children. I could see the fear, confusion, and heartbreak in her eyes as the doctor explained the results.

Moments like that stay with you forever.

Cancer suddenly becomes real.
Not just a statistic.
Not just a story online.
But someone’s mother.
Someone’s daughter.
Someone’s wife.
Someone’s future changing in a single moment.

That experience deeply affected me personally because cancer also runs in our family.

My grandmother died from cancer.
My uncle had cancer.
My auntie had cancer.
There are also cases on my mother’s side of the family.

That is why I became very intentional about looking after my health and becoming proactive rather than reactive.

According to Te Aho o Te Kahu – Cancer Control Agency NZ, breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in New Zealand.

These are not just numbers.
They represent real women, families, and communities.

As women, mums, migrants, caregivers, and busy professionals, we often spend so much time looking after everyone else that we forget to look after ourselves.

This is your reminder:
your health matters too.

Why Early Detection Matters

Early detection may save lives.

Many cancers, including breast cancer, often have much better outcomes when detected early. That is why regular screening, self-checks, and medical reviews are so important.

Being proactive may include:

• regular breast screening
• smear tests
• learning your family history
• healthier lifestyle choices
• stress management
• better nutrition
• proper sleep and recovery
• and listening to your body early.

Personally, I also choose to support my health proactively through supplements, proper nutrition, and wellness habits. One of the supplements my family personally uses is Hemohim by Atomy because of its antioxidant properties and research-backed formulation.

But more than anything, awareness and education matter.

Host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast

I would love to encourage our Filipino community in New Zealand to support the Pink Ribbon Breakfast Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

You can:

• host a breakfast
• organize a small fundraiser
• invite friends and family
• raise awareness
• and help support women affected by breast cancer across New Zealand.

Sometimes even a simple morning gathering can:

• start important conversations
• encourage someone to get screened
• or help a woman feel less alone during one of the hardest seasons of her life.

Let’s Advocate Together

Let’s remind each other:

• book your screenings
• check your health regularly
• encourage your loved ones
• support awareness campaigns
• and never ignore early signs and symptoms.

Especially for women and mums who are often too busy taking care of everyone else.

You matter too.

Your health matters.
Your life matters.
And being proactive today may help protect your future tomorrow.