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JARROD MORETON WWW.BREASTCANCERNETWORK.ORG.NZ PICTURED ABOVE: CHERYLE ROBINS AND KYLIE RICHARDSON www.shockingpink.org.nz is not written by medical experts, trained counsellors or cancer information specialists – there's plenty of amazing people already taking care of that. Instead, it's written by young women telling it like it really is, because they've been there too and know just what it's like to be looking down the barrel of your own bazookas! Shocking Pink enables young women to connect and share their journey, supporting each other and knowing that, while few in number, they are definitely not alone. "When you're diagnosed with cancer, life as you know it comes to an abrupt stop and you're thrust into an unknown world of medical procedures and technical jargon," explains Cheryle. "Through Shocking Pink we aim to bring fellow breast cancer patients together so that we can support each other on our journey, sharing common experiences and even having a few laughs along the way," adds Kylie. WWW.BREASTCANCERNIRVANA.CO.NZ Surviving breast cancer not once, but twice has spurred one Pacific woman to share her personal journey of highs and lows to help others. What started as something quite personal for Andrea Fairbairn, has turned into an opportunity to raise awareness amongst Pacific women. "It started as therapy, for my own sanity and healing process. When I began my first cancer journal in 2007, I wasn't trying to do it for anyone but me. But as I've continued to tell my story online, many women have told me how it has helped them get through their own ordeal," says Andrea. The Wellingtonian started documenting her story online in 2011 as a way of coping with her second diagnosis. First diagnosed with breast cancer on her 39th birthday, not surprisingly the news hit her hard. Now 44, Andrea says it's been different the second time round. "When I had breast cancer the first time, it was hard and there was so much learning. But when I was diagnosed a second time, it felt different. I had already learned as much as I could learn about the disease, so this time I felt that part of the purpose of my breast cancer was to help others and it was less about me." Writing about her condition gave Andrea some solace from the strenuous WWW.THEBREASTCENTRE.CO.NZ WWW.BREASTCANCER.ORG.NZ WWW.NZBCF.ORG.NZ