IT’S GOOD TO FINALLY BE SEEN

Welcome to our annual Pink issue of YOU magazine, in which we join with a number of charities and organisations to raise awareness and just give a platform to the wonderful people who are willing to speak out about their own experiences with breast cancer. Every year I pay tribute here to my own aunt Maria, whose recovery has been so remarkable that it’s hard to believe she was ever ill, and this year I’d like to add my boyfriend’s sister Martina, who got her ten-year all-clear report in recent weeks. The joy and relief that such news brings to the whole family is priceless. In recent years, it’s remarkable how the conversation around women’s health has evolved. Led by campaigners such as Emma Hannigan, Vicky Phelan and Breeda Bermingham, the Government has been forced to focus on issues such as abortion, the menopause, the Cervical Check scandal and many other healthcare problems that are exclusive to women. As a woman in her early 40s, it’s heartwarming to see so many conversations around the menopause, a subject that can be terrifying for so many women yet until now has been brushed under the carpet. This week’s Budget introduced free contraception for women aged 17-25 – it falls short of the desired mark due to the age restriction but it’s a good start and will have a huge impact on young women who until now found the cost prohibitive. The Repeal campaign was such a milestone for women in this country but unfortunately there are still major problems with the implementation of it and these must be addressed. But again, we must congratulate ourselves on what a huge step forward it was. Everywhere we look, women are becoming more vocal, more visible, more ‘seen’ and this must continue. From business to politics to sport, we are experiencing a renaissance and we must grab the opportunities provided with both hands. Gender quotas are not ideal – you always want to have the best person for any job/role/position – but until the barriers that have prevented women from getting involved are removed and people can see how capable we are, they must remain in place. So far from being a month simply to promote awareness around breast cancer, October should be embraced as a celebration of what it means to be a woman. The bonds we share, the friendships we’ve cultivated, the battles we fight together. We are pitted against each other far too often, now is the time to remember our common goals and aim to reach them together. It’s also a month to remind us all to check our breasts regularly – so visit breastcancerireland.com to find the eight signs and symptoms you should be looking out for. You can also see the #MakeTime2Check hashtag across social media outlets. Remind the other women in your life to do it too!

Enjoy the issue.