Inspired by her own experience and with the generous support of her community, Nikita Falconer has exceeded her goal raising more than $136,000 to help others just like her receiving treatment at St Stephen’s Hospital Forbes Cancer Care Centre.
Just over 12 months ago, 33-year-old Nikita found a lump in her breast and was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“One morning I woke to find a golf ball sized lump in my right breast. The next day it was the size of an orange and two days later the entire size of my breast,” Nikita said.
“I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2022 at 32 years old. Initially I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer,” she said.
Later, following further scans which showed colour on her ovaries, Nikita travelled to Brisbane for an oophorectomy, a surgical procedure to remove one or both ovaries.
“There it was confirmed my breast cancer had spread to my ovaries and I was now diagnosed with Stage 4 triple positive breast cancer,” Nikita said.
That’s when Nikita began regular visits to St Stephen’s Hospital
Forbes Cancer Care Centre for chemotherapy treatment.
It was also the beginning of her experience using cooling cap technology – technology she now wishes could be available to more patients receiving cancer treatment.
“I started my treatment with 12 rounds of chemotherapy followed by targeted treatment every three weeks. I will continue this treatment for the rest of my life,” Nikita said.
“Originally, I thought I would be happy to lose my hair as I didn’t know anything about the cold cap machine. It wasn’t until I ended up having some surgeries and missed my first chemotherapy sessions that I saw the cold cap in use.
“After asking the lovely nurses for some information, I knew the cold cap was something I wanted to try. And now, I believe the cold cap machine helped me remain positive throughout my treatment," she said.
The Scalp Cooling System, also known as the ‘cold cap’, is designed to help reduce hair loss as a side effect of chemotherapy and is clinically proven to reduce hair loss in patients with solid tumours.
“I describe the cold cap to others as feeling like a brain freeze that stays for the entire treatment session,” Nikita said.
“You need to prepare your hair and place the cap on 30 minutes prior to starting your treatment. The cap gets so cold that your hair forms ice on it and then you need to wait 90 minutes before you can remove the cap.
“After a few weeks of using the machine and seeing wonderful results, I felt so grateful I was able to have the chance to use the cold cap.
“Although lots of my hair fell out, I never had any bald spots and I still kept my hair. Six months on from the cold cap, I have so much new hair growth already,” Nikita said.
But the expensive technology can only be used by two patients at a time, and so Nikita became determined to raise enough funds to purchase a second system.
“I wanted more people to be able to have that one choice that was theirs to make,” Nikita said.
“I would often feel guilty walking over to my seat and seeing other patients who weren’t able to use the machine. I would see the sadness on their faces as their hair started to fall and head scarves started to become their new norm.
“To feel like you at a time when nothing feels the same is such a wonderful gift. To look in the mirror and not look sick, to go to the shops and not have everyone looking at you and wondering why you have no hair. It helps to give you back your dignity,” she said.
While raising her two daughters and caring for her family, working and continuing to receive regular treatment, Nikita set about planning a special gala fundraising event.
Her goal was to raise $44,000 to purchase a second scalp cooling system for the Forbes Cancer Care Centre.
With the tremendous support of the Hervey Bay community, that goal was quickly smashed.
“We went on to raise a massive $136,000 for Forbes Cancer Care Centre!,” Nikita said.
“I’m thrilled that more patients will now get the opportunity to try the cold cap and hopefully keep their hair while receiving chemotherapy treatment.
“Knowing that I will need lifelong treatment means I will spend a lot of time at St Stephen’s Forbes Cancer Care Centre. It’s my home away from home and I’m so grateful to be able to have access to treatment so close to home.
“I cannot wait to see how beneficial this fundraising will be for our community.”