IT HAS been a difficult six months for Tanya Williams.
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In August, the 45-year-old mother of three was diagnosed with a "life- changing" disease - breast cancer.
"That was huge, it just turns your life upside down," she said yesterday.
"Usually I'm a very fit, active person who eats well ... so you think it's not going to happen to you.
"I'm a nurse and deal with this sort of thing so it's not new, but your world is just turned upside down."
Next Sunday, the Newstead Medical nurse will participate in the Women's 5 Kilometre Walk-Run around Launceston to raise money for the Cancer Council and awareness of the disease she is successfully fighting.
Mrs Williams is in the final stages of her chemotherapy treatment and will undergo monthly therapy for the rest of 2014 from next month.
"Me being so active and now having to think to slow down that's the big challenge - I'm used to being so busy and you just can't do it," she said.
Mrs Williams said she had been training for the walk on a treadmill for 10 minutes several days a week.
She encouraged all women to make sure they check their breasts regularly and have a mammogram once every two years.
"There is just no need for not to have a mammogram at 40 - it's free," she said.