Faumuina's Waka Hauora, 9 Dunedin Street (2026)

04/05/2026

I GOT THE TEST RESULTS. So it turns out that getting chemo will not give me any greater or lesser chance of a recurrence. I got a score of 9/100, generally 25+ means that chemo would give you some benefit. But for me - with or without chemo I have 2% chance of recurrence. So no chemo for me this time. YAY!!! I do have to take a daily hormone blocker pill for 5 years, which I have already started.

So it's onto the healing until my breast implant operation in about two months. I had a bit of set-back with going too hard at the gym too early. I was finally off pain meds and thought I would be okay. So I have had to pull back, rewind and rest. Now I can be active in the day, but by the late afternoon I am often in rest mode. Shout out to Chris for wrapping a lot of care around me, and making sure I do rest.

This disease has come with the odd blessing of me learning to teach and delegate more. We are now delivering our Wayfinding for Life su***de prevention programme, and the crew are really stepping up. The waka and facilitators are really great and sharpening their skills every day. My brother Mau'u Sio has taken over co-ordination. And my sister Selau Mau'u is my designated hitter if I need another lead facilitator in the rooms. I find the days I am working with rangatahi so rewarding for my spirit and body. My goal is that by the end, I know more and do less in terms of the programme.

27/03/2026

It's been 5 weeks since my operation - a mastectomy, axilla excision (where they take out a bunch of my lymph nodes), and put in a breast expander (which included lifting my peck muscle and tucking the expander underneath). I've healed pretty well so they tell me. The cancer surgeon is confident they got all the tumour and only one lymph node had cancer. Mainly my appointments are now with the Plastics unit, filling up the expander with saline until they replace it with an implant in 3 months.

It's been different than last time. Mainly it's been managing the pain and taking a whole lot of tramadol and codeine, which means I haven't been able to drive. At times, my brain is also a bit fuzzy. Chris has been awesome looking after me throughout this time. Reminding me to rest, prioritise my health. Close family and friends and ones faraway continue to support through offering rides, check-ins and cheese scones. Days with Oliver and his family also bring me a lot of joy.

Now we are up to the part where I have to make a decision about chemo. My case is borderline - it might have some benefit (1%) but it might not as well. Really I want to do everything I can to have extra time with my loved ones. But doing chemo out of fear and then suffering potential long-term side effects, which can include leukemia, does not seem wise either esp when in my case their might be zero benefit.

Last week I was told there is a test, the Oncotype Test, that is done in the US and it can tell you if chemo will be beneficial. It costs AUD5000 and it is not govt funded. (The dumb thing is chemo costs the Govt/taxpayer $60-$70k, so the Govt could actually save $$ by funding the test). At first I was like I'm not paying that. Then Chris reminded me how much I paid for my dog when she got hit by a car. I was like ... "Oh yeahhhh". Good to have some perspective.

I told the oncologist that I was 90% sure about what I was going to do but I needed to talk to some family, a couple of besties and go and be in nature and talk with my ancestors. So I did just that including visiting Hinemoana and lying on the deck next to Lilomaiapolima, our hoe that is named after Ema Siope. In the end, I paid the money and in about 2 weeks I will find out if I need chemo.

I am feeling stronger and have had some days on the waka, using it as my home office. The crew have been so great - not just holding the fort, but showing leadership, teamwork and love for the waka and all our kaupapa. I got to help at our stall during Polyfest at a rare day out. It was pretty energising and then of course, I spent the rest of the day in bed. Grateful and in bed.

So I will let you know how it alll goes. In the meantime, hug your loved ones, dance, and watch every sunset you can.

20/02/2026

Grateful. For my parents, partner, family and friends, for doctors and nurses, for medical technology, for all the kindness shown to me, for the quiet and rest, for the sound of grandson laughing, for seeing Oliver’s sweet face, for homemade soup, for my BFF and icecream, for my waka hourua team stepping up, for all the prayers and karakia across the motu.

Operation went well. There’s healing and daily exercises to do as well as rest. In two weeks I’ll get the cancer test results and the decision as to whether I do radiation and chemo. And there’s still a few things to do with the implant. But I feel like I’ve run the first gauntlet in my “Raiders of the lost Ark” cancer series.

Oh and I woke up from the surgery still pretty high and sung Chris “Rainbow Connection”. Cos you know, the show must go on. 5 minutes till curtain time …

18/02/2026

There must always be laughter, music and kung fu. At least before the operation. I think all went well lol. Slept most of yesterday. I had a good night, bit restless but ok. Not too much pain. Waiting for doctors this morning and still not eating. Had Chris with me until late and Oliver Tafunai, and family came by too, which was uplifting. Thanks for everyone’s lovely posts, support and prayers.

17/02/2026

After a delay on Monday caused by my cancer surgeon being stuck in Wellington, we are back in the waiting room again. It was a good practice in getting ready but today is hopefully the real deal.

09/02/2026

It has been a whirlwind - my appointments jumped around a few times and ended up being a month earlier than anticipated.

Let's start with the good news. My bone and tissue scan came out clear with no sign of cancer spread. I met with the cancer surgeon and we continued to discuss my reconstruction - at the time of meeting I had already lost 10kgs as well as kept up my activity plan. He did arrange the consult with the plastic surgery dept.

My visit to them was much more straightforward - in part because I know my case had been discussed. No scales ore mention of a BMI. So on Feb 16, in a weeks' time I will be getting a mastectomy and then a reconstruction with an implant. Other options of using a back muscle or thigh were put forward, but I want my back muscles to sail and paddle. And I was a fast recovery time. We also talked about the BMI "guidance" and how it was a blunt, racist tool that discrimates against Maori and Pacific peoples who have heavier bone density and higher skeletal muscle mass. The surgeon said I was welcome to send in a submission to the hospital, which I will do.

As I prepare for surgery, I have been scrambling to also upskills and co-ordinate my crew, liaise with partners and also try to take care of things on the home front. One unexpected side effect has been the fatigue. I expect it is from the Wegovy, the cancer and the reduced calorie intake. Somedays it is like I just run out of fuel and balance. I have fallen asleep with my dinner on my lap in the lounge a few times.

Also, strangely enough although I might feel exhausted, I am told by some that I look good because of the weight loss. I just don't feel 100%. It's the emotional side of things that can be so draining. It was my mum's 80th last week and I just miss her so much, espcially now. I also think about death, the loss of both my breasts to cancer, and having to write a will.

I wasn't sure what pic to post - so I am posting pineapple pie in honour of my mum Nivaga.

15/01/2026

Two days that went from a CT Scan to packing for sailing (including repairing my fave boots) and then flying to Hamilton, driving to Karapiro to see Hotu and the whanau from Te Toki at Waka Ama Nats It instantly felt like home. We pulled into the carpark and the young wahine told us it was $5 then she looked at me and said: hi whaea are you? And then i said “Oliver’s mum?” She was like, yeah! Park right here whaea. From there, we saw lots of waka ama old and new friends.

After that we went to Te Awamutu and shopped for the waka provisions, bought fish and chips at Pirongia and finished the night with dinner at Kaawhia where Hinemoana is moored.

Yesterday, we did the CT scan. Finding a park was probably the hardest part. Mum had to stay home since she had a bit of a cold so it was just Mandy and Dad. Later that night, I went to see mum and Dad and thank them for coming from Samoa to support me. Dad said he felt I was okay and doing the right things for m my health. He said it was good I was going sailing since I love it so much. Best Dad Ever.

13/01/2026

Yesterday I went for a bone scan. I had to get a radation dye injection first. Mandy and Chris joked that I might start glowing in the dark - I told them not to make angry. Hulk smash that down.
Though I could not visit Waitā today but Oliver and Ari popped around and we got to visit outside the car window .

As for the scan, it was fine. Relaxing even. Before the scan I spent some time showing Dad and Mum pictures of the MRI machine so they knew what was happening. I got called in and while I was doing my bone scan, where I fell sleep, Mandy took them to the Boat Shed for lunch and I joined them afterwards. Tomorrow is a CT scan.

I did feel a bit exhausted today. Mainly it's eating so there is a calorie deficit and eating enough to fuel the body - with a HIIT class in the morning and fasting, I pretty much ran out of energy in the afternoon. So some chicken curry for early dinner and then time to walk our dog. Viva le Hulk!

13/01/2026

Hale Conditioning Coumpound (HCC) have been on my waka hauora since 2022 when Selau Mauu and decided to dedicate a year to our Tinana. We thought about what would help us succeed and decided on HCC because the owners Corey and Koren Hale are Whānau friendly, great motivators and fitness experts. Over the first two years, I got fit and shed 25+kgs, strengthened my arthritic knees and ran a 10km race in Samoa.

Everything was going well until April 2024, I got carpal tunnel in right wrist and then a crush injury on the same forearm. So after osteopathy, Physio, acupuncture, mirimiri, and rest, my wrist has healed enough to be back doing HIIT classes. So I’m back on the HCC waka and loving it!!!

One thing about trying to drop weight quickly is that you can lose muscle mass, which at 54 is not good. Honestly, HCC and waka hourua/ama are probably the only activities that I would wake up to do at 530 in the morning. So shout out HCC, you rock!!

Faumuina's Waka Hauora

04/05/2026

27/03/2026

20/02/2026

18/02/2026

17/02/2026

09/02/2026

15/01/2026

13/01/2026

13/01/2026

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