Gala & GOOD TIMES Nyree's pancreatic pledge

the inspiring 'five percenter’ is on a mission to improve the chances of all those battling this cancer

As one of the only Kiwis to live more than five years past being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Nyree Smith is not wasting a second of this precious life.

Last year, she organised the inaugural PanCan Gala, which raised more than 150,000, and the fiercely determined grandmother is dedicating her life to making memories with loved ones and helping other patients.

“When I looked up the statistics and realised how lucky I am, I kept thinking, There must be a reason why I survived’,” says Nyree, 61. For however long I’ve got left, I want to get out there and kick up enough noise for people to ask questions about their health.”

Nyree’s own shock diagnosis came in September 2017 when routine bloodwork with a new GP revealed she was pre-diabetic with reduced liver function. I never felt like anything was wrong though,” says Nyree, explaining that pancreatic cancer symptoms such as backache, weight loss and stomach ache are so vague and varied, they often go undiagnosed until it’s too late.

“At the time, I was walking 5km at least three times a week, not drinking much, had just become a grandmother and was enjoying life.”

Despite being convinced she was fine, a follow-up MRI showed the former Tennis Auckland Interclub administrator had pancreatic cancer. An initial surgery to remove the tumour on her pancreas in October 2017 wasn't successful when mid-operation they discovered it was too close to a major artery.

Chemotherapy came next to shrink the tumour to an operable size, followed by a second successful surgery and another round of chemo.