In the last 10 months, Harriet Steele, has been diagnosed with cancer, undergone major surgery, IVF, chemotherapy and early menopause.

All just four months after re-locating from Auckland to Tauranga. To say it’s been a whirlwind of extreme life events is an understatement.

“I’m a healthy, 30-something, non-smoker with no family history of breast cancer, so to me it came out of nowhere,” says the Pāpāmoa resident, referring to a ‘significant’ lump she found in her breast while showering.

“I assumed it was a cyst because it seemed to have popped up overnight.”

It was high Grade 2 cancer that had already spread to her lymph nodes. Just three weeks later, Harriet had a mastectomy, followed by IVF to save embryos for the future.

“The cancer was hormone positive that meant my ovaries are required to be shut down and I was put into medically induced menopause which came with all the hot flashes and brain fog. The IVF was successful, so I started chemotherapy.”

Now, with nil evidence of cancer in her body, and back on light duties as a police Constable, Harriet is reflecting on how tough her journey would’ve been without Breast Cancer Support Service.

“They’ve been amazing,” she says. “In fact, when I was diagnosed, I remember someone saying you’re in the best place because the team here is renowned for its support.

“I didn’t know anyone in Tauranga, so I signed up for all the activities like candle making, pottery and pamper evenings. It was a group of like-minded people and we could talk about cancer, or not. It gave me something to look forward to when all I had was medical appointments.”

Harriet even picked up football while going through chemotherapy.

“Chemo really knocks you about,” she says. “I was bald and feeling awful but my team was super uplifting.”

However, those closest to her needed support as well.

“Cancer has a ripple effect,” she says. “I was more aware of how stressful it was for my partner than how it was impacting me. Psychologically, he battled more than I did so the book that Breast Cancer Support Service provided was a great help.”

Harriet is encouraging women to check their bodies every day for signs of change.

“It was purely by chance that I found a lump. It wouldn’t have popped up overnight, I simply wasn’t paying attention. It wasn’t super aggressive, but it certainly wasn’t staying the same size. If I’d missed it for another six months, the outcome could’ve been very different.”