At the upcoming Relay for Life Dunedin event, to be held on May 2 at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Mrs Jepson will step up as relay ambassador, alongside Andrew Petrie and researcher Judy Ann Cocadiz.
The trio will take a leading role at the start of the event, reading the oath, cutting the ribbon and fronting the first lap celebrating survivors and carers, as well as speaking at the candlelight ceremony in the evening.
‘‘It will be my first time at Relay for Life — I will be there as part of the ‘Walking for a Cure’ team of friends and family,’’ Mrs Jepson said.
‘‘I’m really looking forward to it, I’m sure it will be an interesting experience.’’
Mrs Jepson was away on a trip for a friend’s 40th birthday when she felt the lump in her neck, went to her GP when she returned home and was sent for tests.
‘‘It came back that I had lymphoma and then a biopsy revealed it was the rare and aggressive Burkitt non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma — which was a scary diagnosis to receive,’’ she said.
‘‘I was called into hospital at lunchtime on a Friday, admitted and started intensive curative chemotherapy as an in-patient immediately — so I basically lived at the hospital for the next six months,’’ she said.
The diagnosis and treatment meant life changed overnight for Mrs Jepson’s husband Nic Jepson and sons Elliott and Freddie, then aged only 8 and 5 respectively, as well as their extended family.
Sadly for the family, in the midst of Mrs Jepson’s treatment, her mother Lesley Inglis was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
‘‘So, when I finished my chemo in November, I then pivoted to support mum and dad [Ewan Inglis] through her final weeks until she passed away in mid-November.’’
A month later, in December, Mrs Jepson turned 40.
‘‘It was such an intense six months, so it was lovely that my friends organised a ‘staycation’, which was a nice chance to relax.
‘‘The amazing support we had from friends and family throughout that time was such a huge help to me and to Nic and the boys — they really were a village for us,’’ she said.
‘‘We are so appreciative of all the support we have had — everyone has been absolutely amazing.’’
Following the completion of her treatment, Mrs Jepson had a PET scan in Christchurch, which showed no sign of the disease, so she now just has quarterly appointments with a haemotologist.
‘‘It was great to get those results, although you can’t be classed as cancer-free until the five-year mark,’’ she said.
Going through such intense treatment was tough both physically and mentally — Mrs Jepson lost her hair, eyebrows and eyelashes and had to stop working for six months.
She connected with the Cancer Society, accessing support and was able to take part in sessions on looking and feeling better through the cancer journey.
Now her hair is back, and curly, which she finds quite amusing.
‘‘I would quite like to keep my curls if I can — I find them quite fun.’’
As she adapted back to normal life, including a graduated return to work at Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora with the support of her managers, Mrs Jepson had been able to access counselling support through the society as well.
‘‘It is nice to talk to someone with the knowledge of what you are going through, who can offer the right tools and mechanisms,’’ she said.
Mr Jepson praised the society team as ‘‘great people’’ and also praised the healthcare professionals she encountered throughout her treatment and recovery.
‘‘The doctors, nurses, orderlies and everyone have all been wonderful.’’
