Breast cancer survivor bares all
HANNAH Straker never felt that confident in front of a camera.
The 45-year-old Nelson woman who was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and had a mastectomy in March now has no such qualms.
‘‘I felt less self-conscious because I had been through so much trauma,’’ she said. ‘‘It is about facing up and saying, we have breast cancer, let’s talk about it, don’t be shy, it is not something to be ashamed of.’’
Straker had photos taken by her good friend Kiki Nichols after her operation to document the process and she was surprised and thrilled with the results.
She said the ‘‘horrendous’’ cancer diagnosis after discovering a lump in her left breast was like ‘‘being run over by a juggernaut’’.
Despite the shock, the mother of three was determined to not let it break her spirit. She has been very public about her battle.
‘‘I am all about having fun. It’s not all doom and gloom,’’ she said.
The Nelson midwife’s photo is being used to promote Eat Nurture, Love, an event she’s holding – alongside other breast cancer survivors and members of the community – in Nelson next week to raise funds for others who are diagnosed with breast cancer.
In New Zealand, more than 3000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and more than 600 die from the cancer.
Straker got thinking about what she could do to help others while taking part in a restorative yoga class funded by the Nelson Marlborough Breast Cancer Foundation and borrowed the idea from her brother, Ben Maschler who held the Auction against Hunger in London.
The event will include a discussion with Straker’s mother Fay Maschler, the long serving restaurant critic for The London Evening Standard who is also travelling to New Zealand for Straker’s final chemotherapy treatment.
Straker said it was about the healing power of food and the healing power of community. ‘‘Partly what it is about as well – is celebrating that the care that we have here is phenomenal; fast and caring and personal.’’