Local Mum champions cold cap for breast cancer

NIKITA Falconer is one brave lady, looking to make a difference for other local cancer sufferers.

In May of 2022, the local 32-year-old mother of two young girls was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.

“After receiving my diagnosis, I was sent to Brisbane for surgery to remove the cancer that had spread in my body. I didn’t have the easiest time of things, that is for sure,” Nikita said.

“Four more operations, thirty days in hospital, including five of them in ICU, prolonged my initial cancer treatment from starting by approximately ten weeks.”

“Once I started my chemotherapy treatment, because of the previous operations I wasn’t able to initially receive my full doses of chemotherapy. I was however lucky enough to be one of two people that were able to use the only cold cap machine in the Wide Bay region for those twelve rounds of weekly chemotherapy.”

A cold cap lowers the temperature of the scalp by a few degrees. As a result, a much smaller amount of chemotherapy drugs is carried to the hair follicles.

“Cold caps are tightly fitting, helmet-like hats filled with a cold gel or liquid that you wear during chemotherapy infusions. These devices have helped many people keep some or quite a bit of their hair during chemotherapy that can cause hair loss.”

“This can provide ladies with an enormous psychological boost and in many cases, assist them to feel like cancer has not taken their dignity or identity away.”

“Sadly, there are just two cold caps in the entire Wide Bay region. We are very lucky that they are both in Hervey Bay, but we need more.”

Last year Nikita held a pink ribbon morning tea in her front yard and raised $8,000. Now she has her sights set even bigger.

Nikita is organising a fundraiser on May 20th, to purchase a new Cold Cap machine for the Forbes Cancer Centre at St Stephens Hospital. Each new machine cost $40,000.

“Another cold cap machine would allow two more people the same opportunity that I was fortunate to have. It would give them the hope that they need to get through this chaotic time in their lives.”

If you would like to support the event, it is being held at The Beach House on May 20th.

To buy tickets please head to - https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=1017273&