They’re normally political foes but today breast cancer survivors Nikki Kaye and Laila Harre are raising awareness about the disease on NewstalkZB’s Summer Mornings show with Matthew Hooton.

Both Nikki and Laila were young high-flyers in their chosen careers of politics, being appointed Cabinet Ministers in their 30s –Laila in Helen Clark’s Labour-Alliance government and Nikki in John Key’s National Government.

Both are accomplished sportswomen with marathon best times well below 4 hours on famous courses like Boston and New York.

Both are tough. As a first-term backbencher, Nikki took on John Key and Gerry Brownlee over their plans to mine Great Barrier Island, and it was John Key and Gerry Brownlee who had to back down. As a first-term minister, Laila had to take on Helen Clark and the objections of many in the business community to force through New Zealand’s first Paid Parental Leave scheme.

Then, Laila in her 40s and Nikki in her 30s, both faced a potential death sentence with breast cancer.

It’s a disease one in nine New Zealand women will experience in their lifetimes. Seven kiwi women will get the bad news today. Nearly two women die of it every day. The disease also afflicts men.

But breast cancer can be defeated. In fact, if it is detected early enough and treated well, most women will survive: Laila is now planning a return to politics for Labour while Nikki is expected to become Bill English’s Minister of Education in the next few weeks.

Tune in to Summer Mornings from 9am. And be sure to be listening from 11am when Nikki and Laila join to show to tell their stories. You can join the conversation on 0800 80 10 80 or text 92 92.