But what no one saw were the quiet battles behind closed doors.
The days she sat at her desk struggling to keep her head up because of the fatigue from treatment.
The times she worried about how her diagnosis might affect her career.
The moments she felt alone, even in a room full of colleagues.
“And that’s a reality for so many women. We push through pain.
“We show up, even when we’re struggling.
“We put work first, while our own health takes a back seat. But what if we change that?
“What if workplaces didn’t just demand results, but actively supported women in their health journeys?
“And that’s a reality for so many women – we push through pain,” she said.
She said the hardest battles are fought in hospitals.
“They are fought in silence, in workplaces, in homes, in communities where cancer is still taboo.
“Many women don’t get diagnosed until it’s too late.
“Not because they don’t care, but because life gets in the way.
“We schedule meetings, school drop-offs, business trips, but how many of us schedule our own checkouts? Early detection truly does save lives.
“It saved mine.
“Yet we don’t talk about it enough.
“We don’t normalise it in our workplaces, in our conversations, in our daily lives,” she said.
She said that needs to change and it starts with us advocating for our health, for our colleagues, for the women who are too afraid to speak up.
“On top of fear, being scared to actually go and get checked off, we now have to stress over asking time off to go and get checked on.
“We need to create work environments where women don’t feel guilty for taking a day off for a mammogram.
“Where conversations about health are just as important as performance reviews,” she said.
One of the greatest aspects of healing has been through her own peer support groups that was naturally formed as they lifted each other up through their experiences.
“I met a lot of other women on the same journey. Our circumstances are different, but our struggles are not the same.
“I’ve sadly lost a couple of women who bravely fought this dreaded illness.
“No one should have to die from cancer. I’m grateful to the Cancer Foundation for heeding our request to have my current support system here with me tonight.
“Two who are also breast cancer survivors and one who is a breast cancer carer.
“Our journeys have somehow intertwined and have merged into this beautiful sisterhood.
“From this, we hope to formally establish Sister Love, that pink chain, a movement of strength, love, and solidarity because no one, no woman should have to walk this path alone.
“I go for checkups and treatments and I see women with their partners. I’m a single mother.
“My children have had to grow up so fast,” she said.
She said tthey’ve learned to take care of themselves when she would come for treatment.
“I’m a single mother so I urge you all, prioritise your health.
“If there’s one thing I am strongly advocating for, it is regular screenings because early detection saves lives.
“Your health is not just about you but it’s about your family, your community, and the people who love you.
“If you had struggles before diagnosis, believe me, they will multiply the moment you hear these words, you have cancer.
“That’s why support networks matter. People who will walk with you, lift you up, and remind you that you are never alone.
“I want to thank my employer for the support they continue to give me.
“Balancing cancer treatment with a career is a journey filled with challenges.
“But I am grateful to work for an organisation that has genuinely supported me along the way,” she said.
Their compassion has made all the difference in her ability to keep going, healing, and thriving.
But, she said this level of support should not be the exception.
It should be the standard. Every organisation that has the power to accelerate action and create a workplace that prioritises health and well-being.
“And here’s how; flexible leave policies.
“Treatments don’t follow a normal, usual 8 to 4 schedule.
“So being able to adjust time off makes a huge difference.
“And I’m not referring to the one day given off for mammograms. I’ve had to use my annual leave for medical leave,” she said.
She said to fly back and forth for chemotherapy and have checkups, she adjusted her workload.
Lightened duties or flexible work options can help employees stay engaged while managing their health.
With the option of working at home, she had been fortunate enough for the company to bring in a hired help to come and take over her load when she was away for treatment.
Mental health support.
Cancer affects not just the body but the mind and emotions too.
Counselling and mental health resources can be a lifeline.
“My HR manager, he calls me in from time to time.
“I say, how are you doing? How are things going? And he likes to find out what’s happening.
“And this is without added pressure shown but it shows that he does, the employer truly does care; a culture of empathy.
“When kindness and understanding are at the heart of workplace policies, employees feel safe, relaxed and supported.
“When workplaces accelerate action to build a culture of care, they create an environment where employees don’t just survive, they thrive.
“So today I challenge all leaders and anyone here who is in a position of influence, in a position of influencing change, what can you do to accelerate action in your organisation? Because the greatest gift an employer can give is not just a paycheck, it’s the peace of mind that the employee’s health matters.
“It’s to all the compassionate leaders and colleagues who have walked this journey with me, I thank them. Your empathy and support has given me the strength to keep fighting, keep working and keep living. Now let’s accelerate action for the future where no one has to choose between their health and their career.
“I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to the PNG Cancer Foundation for providing this platform and for allowing my voice to be heard. It is not easy to stand before you today. I’ve rejected a lot of opportunities to speak, but my support system knows that this year I said 2025 is my yes year.
“So when I was approached to speak, I said, okay, yes, this is my yes year, so I will do it. It is not easy for me to stand before you today, but it is important for me to say with all the strength that I have that I am still worthy. I am not asking for a break.
“I am asking for understanding and support because my need for this job is not just a desire, it is a necessity for my well-being. And for my continued journey. Breast cancer has been a challenge, but it does not diminish my value or my purpose in this world.
“I am here because I want to serve, to make a difference, and to continue contributing. This is not about taking time off. This is about managing my health so that I can fulfill my purpose and give my best, not just to my work, but to the world around me.
“While I am still finding my place in this world, I ask for your support, your compassion, and your understanding.
“Together we can create an environment where health and purpose are prioritised, and where each of us has the opportunity to thrive, no matter what the battles we face.