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Central Leader : May 18th 2012
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www.aucklandnow.co.nz Friday, May 18, 2012 Fitness is her cure By KELSEY FLETCHER Gym bunny: Deb Wojcik believes regular exercise and a healthy routine are helping her survive grade 3 breast cancer. Photo: JASON OXENHAM GYM junkie Deb Wojcik is not letting grade 3 breast cancer keep her away from the treadmills. Mrs Wojcik says healthy conditioning and regular exercise are helping her to overcome the illness. The Blockhouse Bay gym co-owner found a lump in her right breast while on a fam- ily holiday in January 2010. I wasn't the least bit worried. I didn't think it would be anything but a cyst,'' she says. I had a checkup and was shocked to find it was grade 3 breast cancer.'' Mrs Wojcik's regular mammograms hadn't picked it up. The first thought I had when they confirmed it was breast cancer was that I wasn't going to die and leave my kids.'' Two weeks after the diag- nosis Mrs Wojcik had a total right mastectomy. Waking up after the mas- tectomy was very worrying to look down and see nothing on one side,'' she says. But I had an expander and over the next few months it was extended ready for an implant.'' Mrs Wojcik says losing her breast was a big deal -- but it was all or nothing. I'm the kind of person who thinks of the positives and the alternative was not being here,'' she says. I hate having a fake boob but I'm glad I'm here.'' Six weeks after the sur- gery Mrs Wojcik began an 18-week course of chemo- therapy followed by a five- year course of medication. Physically that was it but I'm still on daily medication which I have to take for five years,'' she says. The type of breast cancer was HER2- positive and the meds are a hormone balancer.'' Mrs Wojcik says The Train Yard Gym she co-owns with her husband in Blockhouse Bay helped her overcome the cancer. I've always been a gym bunny, for 20-odd years,'' she says. During chemo, on the good days, I would exercise and the benefits were mental and physical. Exercise definitely helped me with the cancer -- even the surgeon told me it was easier due to my muscle tone.'' However, she had to stop teaching classes because of the debilitating medication. It still beats me at times butIdowhatIcan. I used to be able to put 110 per cent in. Now it's about 89 per cent but I'm probably my own worst critic,'' she says. As well as regularly exercising Mrs Wojcik has continued to work for Air New Zealand. There would be a few days watching Ellen but most days I continued to work in a different capacity because I couldn't work as a flight attendant,'' she says. I try to live normally. I feel I have to make the most of my life, there is so much I want to do. I've had such great sup- port from my family, friends and Air New Zealand. Every day is a blessing.'' Raising women's awareness May is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation wants to raise awareness of breast cancer among all New Zealand women. Foundation chief executive Evangelia Van Henderson says more than 600 women will die from breast cancer in New Zealand every year. ''Let's try and save the seven women diagnosed with breast cancer every day,'' she says. Women from the age of 20 need to be breast aware, know their breasts and what is normal for them and see a doctor if there are any changes. All women over 40 should have mammograms every year and every two years from age 50. Mammo- grams are free from 45 to 69 years through Breast Screen Aotearoa. Need a website & don't have one? 66% of customers research online before making a purchase.* Let the Central Leader create one for you at a super low cost! slide show map profile contact details www.roomoutsidelandscapes.co.nz Contact your representative for a demo. Phone 09 630 5419 *Source: MYOB Study 2010-2011
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