In 1994, I studied at the renowned Penny Brohn Cancer centre in the United Kingdom. Here they combine orthodox and complimentary treatment to get the best outcomes possible for their clients. Set in a beautiful garden setting. It was a very healing place to study at.

I then went on to run three-day workshops with Cancer patients and their families throughout New Zealand combining complimentary and orthodox treatment. We had an art therapist, music therapist surgeon, doctors, nurses and myself as a nutritionist and herbalist as part of our team. We ran this programme successfully for many years until some of the therapists moved away to other areas.

In 2015, I was diagnosed with breast cancer which had gone into my lymph nodes. I had surgery, chemotherapy and weeks of radiotherapy in Wellington.

The staff, surgeons and nurses were outstanding but I believe that without having the herbal health knowledge I do have, I would not have done so well.

Combining a wonderful healthy nutritional programme and specialized supplementation before surgery enabled my body to heal really quickly and I used meditation techniques as well to help the fluid drain away. I surprised the specialists with my awesome healing and was able to leave hospital in half the time and go and stay with my beautiful sister in Wellington.

By following my nutritional programme and taking my supplements and protein drinks I was able to get through the chemotherapy with no nausea and minimal tiredness. The same applied to radiotherapy and by using natural creams I never suffered the radiation burns.

Yoga, meditation and exercise all enhanced my treatment. So now, with a wealth of knowledge under my belt, I have written a book to help others cope more easily with treatment. Click here to get a copy of Cancer: The Best of Both Worlds.

I feel I have been given a gift as, having the nutritional, herbal medicine knowledge, and being a qualified journey practitioner and now a happy survivor of breast cancer I am able in my work to help others achieve what I have achieved.

Laughter and fun are very important medicine for the immune system and I live each day with gratitude, laughter and joy.

If you know of anyone going through any form of cancer then put them in touch with my clinic.