Photography: Maegan McDowell.
With her luscious brunette locks and infectious smile, from the outside, no one would know what Courtney Evans has gone through in the past two years. Diagnosed with breast cancer at 34, she says it was something “not on my radar at all and very unexpected”.
In late 2024, the Auckland-based product manager discovered an irregular lump moments after having sex. At the time, Courtney thought back to every Breast Cancer Foundation message she’d seen: “When you find a lump, go and see your doctor,” recalls the now-35-year-old.
After her GP confirmed the gravel-like mass needed investigation, she was referred for an ultrasound. Courtney remembers vividly those frightening moments with the radiographer.
“She was kind of nonchalant about it at first given my age,” Courtney says.
“And then there was a moment where she put the wand on my breast where the lump was located. “I felt her body sort of tense up, her voice went higher pitched and she said, ‘We should actually get you in for that mammogram after all and the radiologist is just in the other room – he’s going to want to have a chat with you.’”
Breaking down in the car
Following the mammogram and a sit-down with the radiologist, as Courtney left the clinic, the enormity of what was happening suddenly hit her.
“I sat in my car and burst into tears,” she shares.
“At that point, I kind of knew it was going to be cancer.”
Referred to Breast Associates, a biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. At the time, Courtney was about to start her current job at an insurance company.
“I had to call my new employer and say that I was going to need to push back my start date, telling them, ‘I’ve got cancer and I’m going to have treatment’. Thankfully, they were super-understanding and supportive.”
Beginning 20 weeks of chemo-therapy, Courtney recalls how intense the first eight weeks were taking a potent drug called “Red Devil”.
After two months, she moved on to another drug and was able to work 20 hours a week at her new job.
“The weirdest thing for me was starting a new job with no hair,” she admits.
“I was already so vulnerable, I didn’t know anybody, and my hair’s my shining glory and part of my identity. I remember feeling self-conscious, but then, honestly, it was fine – everyone was super-kind.”
A little laughter went a long way
Following chemotherapy in June 2025, Courtney chose to have a double mastectomy, although the cancer was only in one breast.
“The decision was they can both go, no love lost – I’m done with them!” she tells.
“They tried to kill me was my view on the matter.”
Implant reconstruction was performed at the same time. Naturally optimistic with a love of fun and laughter, Courtney says, “Seeing the bright side of things got me really far in this journey.”
However, she admits her ability to always find a silver lining was tested during her health battle.
“There was anger and resentment, like this shouldn’t be happening to me. This shouldn’t happen to anybody! There were times I was feeling very sorry for myself.”
Thankfully, Courtney had a huge amount of support from family and friends.
“My girlfriends made a schedule, each took turns driving me to chemo and they’d do funny things just to make me laugh. One of them even dressed up as a chauffeur and took me into chemo like that!”
From surviving cancer to living boldly
Her dad Tony, 58, worked in Auckland a lot so moved in with her to support her during this time. And her mum Michelle Evans, 57, travelled back and forth from Kaitaia in between work.
Courtney shares, “I was very lucky to find the lump when I did. The sooner you catch it, the better the outcome.”
She’s also grateful to her medical and support team, including Breast Associates, her surgeon Dr Eletha Taylor, oncologist Dr Naera Waters at Canopy Cancer Care, plastic surgeon Dr Meredith Simcock, as well as the Breast Cancer Foundation.
Now in medically induced menopause with a low risk of recurrence, Courtney says having breast cancer has “definitely lit a fire under me”.
She explains, “It’s made me more driven to do big, fun, crazy things.”
This year, that’s included sharing her story and posing bare-breasted for a new book by fellow breast cancer survivor Dr Cat Stone and Tess Woolcock called The Beauty Of Survival, plus going to Thailand. Next year, she’s also headed to Portugal, Spain and Morocco.
“I’ve got more of a drive to not leave any stone unturned and to live a big life.”
The Beauty Of Survival is out now at beautyofsurvival.life.
