Good Luck and Good Judgement A huge factor in the likelihood of a positive outcome following a cancer diagnosis is early detection. Given that many cancers are initially symptomless, early detection can often be more luck than judgement. As was the case for Lorraine Cuffe when she took her new baby girl, Leah, for […]
Just When You Think It’s All Over Most people are familiar with the basic routine of cancer treatment. It’s a tough regime, regardless of the format and severity of treatment, so the end of treatment is a momentous day and thanks to advances in cancer treatment it is often seen as the day a
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is probably one of the most difficult incidents any one will face in their lives. It is particularly cruel when it comes after one of the happiest times in your life, the birth of your first child. For Sharon McClean this became a reality in October 2020 when she was diagnosed
It’s never too soon to check. The statistics on breast cancer rates are frightening as, in Ireland, one in nine women will be diagnosed with the disease at some time in their life. The good news is that 4 out of 5 women with the disease will survive and continue to live long and productive
Gone Fishing A story all too familiar. Peter Biddulph was a reasonably fit and healthy man in his 60’s. He was working with his GP to keep his type 2 diabetes in check so his diet was restricted but otherwise he had no health issues. He was leading a near perfect life – working
Home Away From Home Eugene Mullen from Easkey in County Mayo was delighted to finish his eight week course of radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Thankfully it all went to plan and Eugene is doing well with little or no side effects. As Eugene’s treatment was delivered every day from Monday to Friday he needed to stay
With a little help from Bluebird Dealing with a cancer diagnosis and all that goes with it is never easy but for Terry Jackson it is especially hard as he is wheelchair bound and has few family close by to support him through this time. When the time came to do his radiotherapy treatment Terry was worried about
In memory of Nanny Mary While Christmas 2020 was a difficult one for everyone, it was especially difficult for the Killeen family from Kiltullagh, Co. Galway. Their beloved Nanny Mary was taken to hospital in London, where she lived, and soon after she passed away leaving her husband Seán bereft and lonely. As it was during the COVID-19 crisis, Seán’s son John and his family
There are very few upsides to having cancer but sometimes an unexpected benefit can come during the hardest of times. Vanessa Job is going through a hard time right now. In the throes of treatment for bowel cancer, she is trying to balance the needs of her two younger children, support her older daughter and
No one is ever prepared for the shock of a cancer diagnosis according to Cedric Burke, who, in 2018, was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 46. A father of four, Cedric and his wife Lavinia were living a busy and fulfilling family life in Woodford, near Portumna in County Galway. Looking back