‘TELLING MY PARENTS WAS HARD, IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE THEIR REACTION’

Aileen, 49, lives in Limerick where she cares for her elderly father. In 2019, while working for Breast Check, she found a lump in her own breast and after discussing it with a colleague, was taken for an ultrasound and afterwards told that it was likely that it was cancerous. She says:

‘I felt scared, anxious and upset and couldn’t believe what was happening. After a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy it was confirmed that I had stage three aggressive ductal carcinoma. I had been on my own going through it all, so going to tell my parents was very hard – it was heartbreaking to have to see their reaction.

I had to have chemotherapy, which I was very sick with, followed by radiotherapy. My mother came to all the sessions with me, and I met some lovely people as we were put at different tables each week and everybody supported each other with stories of what things people had tried, advice and just making each other laugh.

I was quite sick after the first few sessions and I went to the Midwest Cancer Support Centre where I had complementary therapies such as Indian head massage, reflexology and counselling – there were also workshops and advice on lymphoedema. It was really helpful and I can actually still avail of them now, so I was lucky. Also, throughout my treatment the Irish Cancer Society volunteer drivers used to collect me to bring me to chemo, which is a huge help as it means you’re not worrying about parking or anything. I was very nervous, but had this lovely lady called Sheila who really put me at ease.

I also found a lot of support from the Daffodil Centre inside the hospital, which is great when you need to talk to someone as sometimes you don’t want to talk to your family about it as you don’t want them to see you suffering. I also found the Thrive and Survive workshops that the ICS do really amazing, even though I did mine online because it was during Covid. It lasted six weeks and I met some fabulous people I still keep in contact with, and we are a great support to each other.

At the moment I’m on a clinical trial for a chemo drug to give me a better chance of the cancer not coming back – I’ve been really well looked after as it can be difficult when you come off treatment and you’re kind of at a loss because the structure and support is gone, so I’m finding that being on the trial, I do have support and check-ups, which is really helpful.

I’m always conscious about

October being breast cancer awareness month and I’m very open about the need to check your breasts and know what’s normal for you. Then follow up if anything is different.

I’ve been very lucky that I have a really supportive family who have been with me every step of the way – talking, laughing, bringing me to appointments and just being there for me, as have my friends.

Having cancer has changed my outlook and things which bothered me before don’t affect me now. I make decisions faster and don’t keep myself in uncomfortable or unhappy situations – I just move on from it. It has made me want to be happy, to have new adventures and try new things.’