'If I lost my hair, I wouldn't be me': Abbey's battle with breast cancer

"At 23 years old, losing your hair is devastating," she said.

"It is part of my identity and I felt like if I lost my hair, then I wouldn't be me."

Ms Boyce was diagnosed with cancer in July 2024 after she noticed a lump in her left breast.

"In a four-week period, I found a lump, I got diagnosed, I did fertility treatment and started chemotherapy," she said.

She would have to start six months of aggressive chemotherapy at the Maitland Hospital, NSW, oncology ward and would risk being completely bald by round two.

But after eight rounds of chemotherapy, Ms Boyce still had hair on her head, which she attributed to the hospital's cold cap machine.

"I've probably lost 60 to 70 per cent of my hair, but I've cut it to a bob, and it looks really nice still," she said.

Nurse unit manager Preethy Mathai noticed there was a gap in the services at the hospital's oncology ward.

"For many patients, hair loss is not just about their appearance, it's about their identity, confidence and maintaining a sense of normalcy," she said.

Noticing the challenges patients faced with hair loss, Ms Mathai coordinated with local community groups to raise enough funds to buy a cold cap machine for just under $50,000.

"It helps to give patients a sense of control over their journey," she said.

The cold cap machine, or the Paxman scalp cooling system, reduced the impact of chemotherapy on hair follicles by keeping the scalp between 18 and 22 degrees, Ms Mathai said.

While some level of hair loss still occurred for many people, Ms Mathai said it preserved the hair cells, which meant when hair grew back, it would grow back quicker.

She said while they were grateful for the oncology ward built by the government, they realised they needed the machine much faster than official funds could provide.

"I just don't think it was built in our budget, for the government to actually do it, it might have taken years," she said.

She said they were hoping for continued community support as they looked to potentially raise funds for an oncology psychologist in the future.

After finishing chemotherapy two weeks ago, Ms Boyce was feeling better every day.

She will now start six months of immunotherapy and then surgery to remove the excess lump and a double mastectomy at a later date.

"I'm just trying to keep active and go outside," she said.

"I'm just taking it one day at a time."