Cancer strikes Kiwi cop for second time

Jamieson, who is off work until at least next year, has been inundated with meals, flowers, visits and messages of support.

She survived cancer once, now a young police woman has it again.

A policewoman and young mum stricken with cancer for the second time in four years is determined to beat the disease for the sake of her son.

Friends and workmates are rallying around mum-of-one Constable Alana Jamieson, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer after previously surviving melanoma.

Cancer specialists say the heart-breaking dual diagnosis is extremely rare. One said it might only occur "once every few years in this country, if that".

Jamieson, 28, had surgery last week and faces more in the coming weeks, including an operation on her 29th birthday.

She told the Herald on Sunday that nothing could have steeled her for a question her 8-year-old son, Rylin, asked before bedtime last week.

"He asked me if I was going to die from the cancer, which was a bit of a tear-jerker," she said.

"I told him I would never leave him and I'm not going to die from this."

She was hoping early detection, coupled with surgery and a positive attitude would make good her promise.

"I need to believe they've caught this early. I'm trying to keep as positive as I can and have great faith in the specialists and technology."

Jamieson revealed an intuitive moment led to the discovery of her latest cancer scare.

"I've never done a breast check in my life. One night in bed a little voice in my head said, 'You need to check your breasts' and I did and that was when I found the lump."

She said since that moment she had been overwhelmed by kindness.

"The support I am getting from the New Zealand Police is just phenomenal — they won't let me fall — and the amount of messages and donations is wonderful. Then my friends are so great. Every time anyone sees I am starting to falter they're right by my side."

Jamieson, who is off work until at least next year, has been inundated with meals, flowers, visits and messages of support. "They continue to bring meals over and get me out of the house," she said.

Constable Alana Jamieson and her 8 yr old son Rylin Glenny. Photo / NZME.

"I'm locking myself away sometimes so they just pull me out of bed and take me out. It really makes you realise how important your friends and family are at this time."

Friends had started an online fundraiser to pay for medical treatment, travel costs, everyday living and potentially a family holiday.

Last night, more than $4,300 had been donated.

Long-time friend Lana Kearney said Jamieson was facing the fight of her life. "She doesn't deserve this," Kearney said.

"She's such a good cop. Now she has been forced to step away from this after working so hard to be accepted."

Cancer specialists told the Herald on Sunday that Jamieson's diagnosis was extremely rare.

Dr Richard Sullivan, director of the Northern Cancer Network, said he had never come across a case like it in his career.

"We occasionally see people with two separate cancers but I don't recall ever seeing somebody [who has been diagnosed with both] melanoma and breast cancer," he said.

Surgeon Guy Hingston added it was exceedingly rare for a woman in her late 20s to be diagnosed with the two cancers over such a short time.

Annually, about eight out of 100,000 New Zealand women aged 25-29 would get breast cancer and about 20 out of 100,000 get melanoma. To get both at that age was unusual, he said.

New Zealand Cancer Society chief executive Claire Austin said people aged 25-44 made up 6.9 per cent of the annual cancer rate.

She said to have a breast cancer episode at 28 was not typical. The disease is more common in women in their 40s and 50s.

Several international medical journals have linked the incidence of breast cancer with skin cancer, including a recent study in the Irish Journal of Medical Science, which found having one form of the cancer raised the odds of developing the other.