KIWI MUM'S HEARTBREAK 'I WORRY FOR MY DAUGHTERS'

Breast cancer has devastated Auckland mother Ofa's family

The first Ofa Soakai knew that her mum had cancer was when her dad took the family to visit her in hospital post-surgery. It was shocking for the teenager. So when Ofa got cancer at a similar age to her mother, the Aucklander decided to be more open with her five children.

"I think they wanted to protect us," she reflects. "But I wanted to take a different path and give my children a different experience.

"I still have such strong memories of her being really sick and her hair falling out. It's heartbreaking that my girls will remember this about me too.

"We sat down with my kids and my husband explained, 'Mummy's going to be sick. We're going to do this together and be strong together! He told them my hair was going to fall out and I probably wouldn't be as active or do things that I would normally do."

A mother to Ngaluafe, nine, Amelia, six, and Ilaisaane, four, the Mangere resident adds, "Throughout all of this, my constant worry has been for my three daughters."

Breast cancer isn't just common in Ofa's family it's rife. Her mum, Malieta, was also in her thirties when she was diagnosed 18 years ago, while Ofa was in high school. Malieta's twin sister was diagnosed at 36 and has since passed away.

And Ofa, who is now 36, also lost her older sister to breast cancer six years ago.