A young woman from Hastings has had a large tumour removed after a lump in her tummy turned out to be a rare form of cancer.
Nixie Buchanan, 20, was diagnosed with a form of ovarian cancer, known as a yolk sac tumour, in late August.
Buchanan underwent major surgery to remove the 14cm tumour and one of her ovaries last month at Royston Hospital.
She has now started chemotherapy treatment at Kaweka Hospital to prevent the cancer returning.
Yolk sac tumours can impact boys and young men, as a form of testicular cancer, as well as girls and young women as a form of ovarian cancer.
Less than 5% of ovarian cancers are germ cell tumours (which includes yolk sac tumours), according to Ovarian Cancer Foundation New Zealand.
Buchanan was diagnosed with endometriosis a couple of years ago and had a cyst removed.
However, the recent cancer diagnosis came as a complete shock.
“It was strange,” she said.
“I noticed a lump in my tummy probably in mid-July.
“I assumed it was just my bladder, or something, but then it got worse and got bigger.
“I went to see the doctor and they got me in for an ultrasound and they thought it was a cyst.”
Buchanan underwent further tests, which led to the discovery of a tumour.
“They took it out in surgery ... I think it was 14cm,” she said.
“The first two weeks after surgery were pretty hard because it was a big [surgery].
“It was kind of like a C-section. It went across my lower abdomen.”
Surgeons also removed one of her ovaries.
She is receiving Zoladex injections to protect her remaining ovary during chemotherapy and has also frozen some of her eggs, in case that is needed in future.
Buchanan is undergoing her chemo at Kaweka Hospital in Hastings and, all going well, that will conclude before Christmas.
“It was my first week this week,” she said.
“It is going okay, I’m just tired and a bit dizzy and nauseous.”
It has been a difficult journey to date, as much of her life has gone on pause while she focuses on getting well.
However, Buchanan said she was “super grateful” for the support she’d received.
That includes from family, such as her mum and older brother, friends and her partner, as “everyone has been there for me and are showing up to help”.
Buchanan is also holding on to a goal for next year, to start studying law and psychology at Victoria University in Wellington.
She said having that goal in mind was helping her stay focused on completing her treatment.
A Givealittle page has been set up to support Nixie Buchanan while her life is upended by cancer treatment. Search “Nixie’s Fight” on the Givealittle website to donate.