Support Erin to Beat Breast Cancer

Merry Christmas everyone from our whanau. Truly hoping you all have a peaceful and loving holiday season.

I had the best Christmas present of being able to finish oral chemo last week. I was so looking forward to finishing, and moving on from the crazy fatigue, but I found myself quietly dreading it, it was a bit like a security blanket.

Interestingly since finishing I've been feeling a bit crappier than usual, but I guess there's going to be a bit of recovery time needed.

Sometimes I feel like it all never happened at all, other times I feel like I'll never get over it 😂 Especially when something hurts and your first thought is that it's back 😬

A classic example of a cancer haunting...a couple months ago I hurt my shoulder trying to wrestle our 65kg St Bernard. I have never had issues with lingering injuries (being allergic to sports and all...)

As the days went on I became convinced it was bone mets. A few weeks later, my bloods were extra shonky and my calcium was elevated. Instead of thinking rational things like "oh, probs dehydrated, should drink more", I spiralled.

Scan and ultrasound later... I have a partially torn tendon in my shoulder and calcific tendonitis (100% do not recommend - very painful!)

Anyway, moral of story for me is "stop freaking out woman!" And maybe be a bit more accepting of the physical changes. My oncologist said to expect it to take as long as I was in treatment to really recover. Stuff that 😂😂😂

Anyway, happy Christmas everyone, enjoy it, enjoy your whanau, enjoy life, because it can be tragically short, we're actually pretty lucky to be here at all and it's not a dress rehearsal ❤️

Ps. I have SOOO MUCH HAIR!

It's my one year surgery anniversary today, I'm not sure where the year has gone, but I'm pretty happy to be here to celebrate the end of it!

Thinking back over the past 18 months or so is something I avoid when possible. Instead I'm trying very hard to just focus on moving forward, one foot in front of the next.

But sometimes we have to look back to see how far we've come!

Rather than rabble on about scars, fear, and the awful toll of diagnosis and treatment on your physical and mental wellbeing... Check out the hair progress over the past year!!

And again, thank you to you all, your support and kindness got me and my family through this and we so appreciate each of you 💕💕💕

It's been a while, I've been practising the fine art of hiding under a rock and trying fully to ignore the saga of my own diagnosis!

But there is now an update outside of me complaining about being so so so tired, or my body hurting, my nausea or how I have no idea what to do with my crazy new curls!

Today was a bit of a milestone, my last pre-treatment appointment with my oncologist from St George's Hospital. While I still have a public oncologist until November for my oral chemo, it is in a way a big milestone.

Don't get me wrong, my oncologist is a wonderful guy, he's looked after me, made me laugh, handed me tissues when I ugly cried. And he pushed me when I didn't think I could do it anymore.

We had a laugh today, when I told him that despite his fabulousness I never, ever want to see him again. And happily today he told me there's around an 85% chance I won't! Considering where my odds started I'm super happy with that!!

While we're not quite at the end of the journey yet I really wanted to pause and say that I have huge amounts of gratitude to express to all of you, friends, whanau, strangers, my amazing work colleagues, everyone of you who have supported us along the way 💕

Ness here again. Please sign and share the petition. The Government needs to fund Immunotherapy for Breast cancer. It is long overdue and beautiful women are dying every day because they’re not “rich” enough to survive!

Sign the Petition Fund Keytruda for Triple Negative Breast Cancer in New Zealand

Fantastic time had by all at the Rolleston Tennis Club fundraiser today. Wonderful turnout, thanks so much to everyone who came along and joined in the fun, the players and those who donated raffle prizes. It was a fantastic event, and we really appreciate the support ❤️

Jason and Stella won the mixed doubles, Jason of course couldn't miss the opportunity to dress up! Unfortunately tonight he's moving about worse that I am! Going to be sore tomorrow 😂

Kia ora everyone

Hope you all had a lovely long weekend.

Just sending a reminder to register your teams before Thursday 18 April. Its going to be a fabulous day, all while supporting a great cause!

Also if any of your teams have left over cans of balls from the season, can you please message me or respond to this email so I can organise pick up.

Look forward to seeing you on Saturday 20 for the fundraiser or the Sunday 21 for prizegiving.

Thanks

Marika, Rolleston Tennis Club

It's coming up to one year since I trotted off after work for a routine screening mammogram that would change my life and my family's lives forever!

14 March 2023, an appointment I had already rescheduled once, and nearly rescheduled a second time because I was "too busy". Within a few days of that appointment I'd get the dreaded call back, and from the moment I saw traitorous Timmy on the ultrasound screen I knew what was happening.

Naively I told myself it would be fine, a lumpectomy to remove it, a bit of radiation, no worries. I didn't have any real knowledge of triple negative breast cancer and had no idea what I was facing. Chemo, immunotherapy, bilateral mastectomy, more immunotherapy, more chemo.... Gah!!

Almost twelve long, hard, scary months on and I'm still slogging it out. All remaining as it is currently, I've only got three immunotherapy doses left, fingers crossed! Recently released research indicates that for women in my situation continuing immunotherapy after surgery proves really helpful.

I remain on oral chemo as a precaution against TNBC's horrible reoccurrence rates. I'm tired and stuck with a bunch of extra chemo weight, but my scars are healing, my hair is growing and very slowly the light at the end of the tunnel is glowing brighter.

3rd April will mark 12 months from the official day of diagnosis. Being the day before our 24th wedding anniversary it won't be easily forgotten.

This year is our 25th anniversary, one which we had in earlier years looked forward too as one to mark with something special, a big party, a trip overseas etc. In reality this year I'm just looking forward to thanking my lucky stars that I'm still here to celebrate that I have the best husband ever ❤️ He has taken such amazing care of me and the kids through some horrifically scary and very stressful times.

And the best family too. Without my whanau and friends, particularly my sister Vanessa, who stepped up and took control of the fundraising situation, it's unlikely we would have managed to get as far through immunotherapy as we have. As always, thank you all for your support!

PS...check out the curls coming through! Every day is a bad hair day at the moment, but I'm still grateful to have it back!

Well this is EXCITING!!! Save the date 20th of April and dust off those sweatbands folks ❤️

Join us for the Rolleston Tennis Fundraiser! 🎾 The Trethewey family, valued members of our community and tennis club, are facing a challenging time as Erin, Jase's wife, undergoes treatment for aggressive breast cancer. Let's come together to support them by raising funds to alleviate the financial burden of her treatment.

Expect a day filled with BBQ delights, exciting raffles, spot prizes, and opportunities for teams to win fantastic prizes, all in the spirit of supporting a noble cause. If you're unable to attend but still wish to contribute, you can do so by clicking the link below. Let's rally behind the Trethewey family in their time of need! 🌟
Email [email protected] to register your team.


[HELP! Loving, hardworking wife and mother of three, needs your help to fight agressive breast cancer - Givealittle](https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-loving-hardworking-wife-and-mother-of-three)

Awww who did this? ❤️ Thank you who ever it is, it's beautiful and I love it

Today I completed another lap around the sun - Happy 49th birthday to me ❤️.

I never would have imagined last birthday that my year would unfold the way it has. Last birthday I was worrying about the impending doom of 50....

This birthday I'm so grateful to be alive. Amazing how quickly your perspective can shift. Now I'm like bring on 50 next year mofos, I'm ready for you! Every day, month, year is a gift.

I haven't been online much recently. Been focusing on family, we had a lovely Christmas and New Year, kids made hubby and I matching tie dye t-shirts 😅

Getting my life back together after the hell of last year is still a work in progress. Recovering from surgery and trying to get into a rhythm with oral chemo (which was horrific until we got the dosing right!) is taking a fair bit of effort!

I'm now having a double dose of immunotherapy 6 weekly now which is better than 3 weekly time wise, but my last dose on the 12th did kick my arse a bit!

Anyway, we're all happy and as healthy as can be ❤️ I'm loving being back at work and having lost most of my chemo fog it's filling my cup ❤️

Again, thank you all for your support and encouragement 💓💓💓

Happy new year ❤️

PS...my hair is definitely going to curl!