‘I still want to have kids in a few years’
Breast cancer survivor Shauna Comiskey on being part of Rosie Connolly Quinn’s new fundraising initiative for BCI
SHAUNA Comiskey was only 28 when her life changed completely. She found a lump in her breast in January 2021, the middle of the pandemic. It was six months before she was diagnosed with breast cancer after an ultrasound.
But the Clondalkin woman decided that she wasn’t going to let cancer derail her plans to have a family with her partner Derek.
‘I was diagnosed with hormone positive HER negative invasive ductal breast cancer,’ she says.
‘And then I was told I have the BRCA gene. My mam was then diagnosed with breast cancer but the gene actually comes from my father’s side.
‘The first thing that I asked when I was told I had breast cancer was ‘Can I have IVF before my treatment?’
Shauna is speaking about her experience as Breast Cancer Ireland teams up with entrepreneur Rosie Connolly Quinn who is launching a limited edition of her best-selling 4TH ARQ half zip fleece designs set to mark International Women’s Day and help fund life-saving research into the disease.
The pink fleeces in the styles Phoenix and Lennon will go live at 6pm this Friday March 8. All proceeds from the sale fleeces which come complete with a small embroidered pink ribbon design on the reverse, will be donated to Breast Cancer Ireland to help fund world class research into this unrelenting disease.
THIS is the brand’s second successful collaboration with Breast Cancer Ireland, having previously launched a limitededition pink tracksuit which sold out entirely in a matter of hours in October 2021 raising a staggering €73,000 for the charity.
Shauna is one of four ambassadors working to raise awareness of the fundraising campaign.
She underwent a mastectomy and radiotherapy and is now on a hormone suppressant treatment which has plunged her into the menopause.
‘I am on the hormone treatment for five years to put me into menopause. That has been the worst part,’ she says.
‘I am waiting on my second mastectomy and double reconstruction at the moment. It was meant to happen at the end of last year but was put back and so I am waiting on the phone call. The treatment I am on at the minute is preventative and when I finish my treatment in another two and a half years, I will have a little gap to have kids and then I have to have a hysterectomy.
‘The worst part is the menopause as I am still getting very bad side effects and I can’t take HRT so it is quite hard. Because it is a medically induced menopause I get all the symptoms. That has been the only part I have struggled with: the hot sweats, the night sweats and the lack of sleep. But you just have to get on with things, stay positive and do the things that make you happy.
‘And please god I will have children one day.’
The new fleeces will fund research to help women like Shauna.
Rosie Connolly-Quinn set up the 4TH ARQ brand with her husband Paul and says she wanted to help fund research and support for breast cancer sufferers after her mother was diagnosed ten years ago. ‘I truly believe in the power of fashion and its capabilities to help inspire change and make a positive impact,’ she says. ‘Our partnership with Ireland’s leading breast cancer charity is a meaningful collaboration that allows us to use our platform to help raise awareness and much needed funds for a very important cause. Together, the goal is to generate hope, support and continue to spread the message about the great work the charity does for those affected by breast cancer.
‘The importance of screening and research is paramount and we will continue to strive to support this in any way that we can.’
CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland, Aisling Hurley, says the money raised will help world class experts develop new treatments for patients.
OUR ultimate goal is to transform this disease into a treatable illness for all — and initiatives such as this one are of crucial importance in helping us to fund life-saving research into a disease that affects women of all ages — in fact 30% of all breast cancer diagnoses are in women aged between 20-50 years old.
‘Rosie’s influence amongst this younger audience is also invaluable to us as charity given our remit of driving awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer amongst women of all ages.’
Each of the 4TH ARQ pieces are sustainably sourced and ethically produced. As a limited edition, with a price of €40 ( per fleece, the fit is modern, the style is cool, comfortable and casual – suitable for all ages, created to the highest standard, and unique to the 4th ARQ brand.
The pink fleece tops will be exclusively available for purchase at 4THARQ.com from 10am on Friday to mark International Women’s Day.