Haley’s fight with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer
This is our dear friend and former Ōmokoroa community member Haley and her family. In August this year, Haley was tragically diagnosed with incurable stage 4 breast cancer that spread rapidly to both lungs and liver in just a matter of weeks.
Haley is only 35 years old and married to Tony who many of you may know through him fixing your TV or heat pump. They and have three small children, Lauren 7, Rhys 3 and Millie 1.
Haley’s battle began at the end of June when she and little Rhys were roughhousing, and Rhys accidentally kicked her breast. It hurt more than it should have and that’s when she felt a lump. An urgent doctor’s appointment, mammogram, ultrasound and biopsies confirmed breast cancer. At that point, they were told the cancer could be easily treated with chemotherapy, mastectomy, and radiation. It wasn’t until the beginning of August when a full-body MRI and CT were done discovering the aggressive nature and incurable cancer that ruthlessly invaded more of her body, and treatment would only involve hormone therapy as a means to buy time.
Haley is a Registered Nurse and has spent the last 13 years of her life caring for patients and their families. Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women, and Haley would like to share her story with others to raise awareness of the importance of self-breast exams and early screenings no matter how old you are.
If you wish to read more about Haley’s story, keep up to date with her journey, or would like to help, you can scan the QR code on the picture or visit givealittle.co.nz and search ‘Haley’.