VERONICA’S CANCER BATTLE
FORMER SLIGO COUNCILLOR VERONICA CAWLEY SPEAKS TO EDITOR JENNY MCCUDDEN ABOUT HER ONGOING BATTLE WITH CANCER AND HOW IT HAS CHANGED HER OUTLOOK ON LIFE
“I would glow in the dark if you put out the lights,” jokes Veronica Cawley when speaking about the amount of chemotherapy drugs coursing around her veins.
The former Sligo County Councillor is being treated for cancer. Multiple myeloma to be precise. This is a type of bone marrow cancer or as Veronica describes ‘cancer of the plasma cells in the blood.’
For 15 years Veronica was involved in the ‘all consuming’ world of local politics first as a labour councillor and then an independent. During her tenure she was both Mayor and Caithaoirleach, gracing the pages of this newspaper with her brown bob hairstyle on a regular basis. To meet her today, the same woman looks very different.
“My hair is growing back curly and grey but I quite like the new look,” she tells me while patting her head in a manner that indicates she is still getting used to it. With two more rounds of chemotherapy to go and a further two years of ‘maintenance’ therapy Veronica’s struggle with The Big C is ongoing. Almost a year ago she was first diagnosed with her illness and within a week had already started treatment.
It was after a routine medical check at the Mater Private in Dublin that the mother of five first discovered something was wrong.
58-year-old Veronica recalls: “I’ve been getting health checks done since I was 50. I can’t stress the importance of these regular health checks enough. This one saved my life. It showed that I was anaemic. Further tests followed including a bone marrow test and at the end of August 2016 I was diagnosed with cancer.”
An intensive year of treatment got underway including chemotherapy and stem cell transplant treatment.
“I didn’t realise it would take this long,” admits Veronica who is on sick leave from her administration job at IT Sligo.
Fortunately Veronica who is originally from Jink’s Avenue was able to have her chemotherapy in Sligo. As a local politician she fought hard to save breast cancer services at Sligo General. That particular fight was lost but she recalls the campaign as her proudest moment and political highlight.
Some Chemotherapy is however still available in Sligo. Veronica explains: “No two chemotherapy treatments are the same. It is individualised to suit a patient. Many cancer patients can get their chemo in Sligo and don’t have to travel to Galway for that aspect of their treatment.”
This came as a welcome relief to Veronica who speaks highly of the staff at Sligo University Hospital: “They are brilliant and very dedicated. I’d like to thank them for all they do. They are very positive and attentive and gave me the confidence and reassurance I needed at the time.”
She compares having chemotherapy in Galway and Sligo to ‘chalk and cheese.’ “Galway is bursting at the seams,” she says.
Grand-mother of six, Veroni- ca did have to spend a month in isolation at Galway University Hospital for stem cell treatment. This was one of the lowest points of her battle with cancer. So much so, she finds it difficult to articulate.
“I was very very ill,” she sighs, “After the stem cell transfer the doctors call it Day Zero - the beginning of your new life. I had never been so weak. My immune system was shut down. I was in isolation and if any one visited they had to wear a gown, gloves and mask. A part of me was saying ‘I can’t do this.’ I was exhausted. I was completely drained and slept a lot. I was sometimes too weak to talk. But you get through it, day by day you get a little better and recover.”
Veronica has a strong faith which she believes carried her through her darkest days.
“I was not afraid,” she explains, “You have to have hope and belief. A lot of people were praying for me, lighting candles, getting masses said, sending mass cards and I always felt I have to deal with the day, but others were carrying the bigger issues for me. It lightened the burden for me, a higher power was looking after me.”
On St. Patrick’s Day Veronica was discharged from Galway and came back to her Cartron home to recuperate. She still suffers the side effects of regular chemo sessions such as ‘dry mouth, dry eyes, lack of concentration and jittery legs.’
Extreme fatigue is something she also has to contend with but her outlook is positive as she says: “This too shall pass. When you are recovering, you just focus on the outcome of getting better. The hardest part is thehe treatment is so long but it ddoes givei you a differentdiff perspective on life. You look at things differently. You realise what is important and to let the little things go. Family and good friends become more important.”
Despite her illness Veronica is now enjoying life more. “You learn to take pleasure out of the day, you value things more like sitting out here in the sunshine or talking and playing with my grandchildren enjoying their company and their innocence. I appreciate my days. I try to live
I WAS VERY VERY ILL. DOCTORS CALL IT DAY ZERO - THE BEGINNING OF YOUR NEW LIFE. I HAD NEVER BEEN SO WEAK. IWASIN ISOLATION.
in the moment and stop putting thingshi off.ff DDuringi isolationili as I got stronger I started knitting and crocheting again. I’ve even dabbled in painting!”
Veronica has been told her cancer will return but can be treated once again. “None of this is easy,” she concludes, “I don’t know if I’m a different person. Time will tell.”
There’s one thing she is certain about though - her passion for local politics.
“I miss politics. It was my life. I would never rule myself out of anything!” she says.