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 lives. One startling figure however is that, of the 3,700 women who will receive a breast cancer diagnosis this year, over 1,000 of them will be under the age of 50. As BreastCheck Ireland starts screening women from the age of 50 this means these women are only diagnosed when they are symptomatic, often leading to poorer outcomes, unless they have been vigilant and found early evidence of abnormality themselves.

If you are a 44 year old, healthy and fit vegetarian, who rarely drinks alcohol and has never smoked, you might think your need to be vigilant is not so important. After all you are doing all the right things to keep yourself healthy, how likely is it that it will happen to you? Well as Anna Kasperowicz can tell you – it can happen to anyone. “Even though no one in my family, either on my mother’s or father’s side, had cancer, my mother always insisted that I was vigilant about checking myself every month. Thanks to her it became a habit in my life so even through I was keeping all the risk factors low I did it every month, just in case. In September 2020 Anna found a lump. She waited another month of her cycle to make sure it wasn’t a temporary swelling before going to the doctor. As it was during COVID and GP’s surgeries were busy Anna contacted her gynaecologist in Dublin, within a week she had her diagnosis – Stage 1, Grade 1 breast cancer.

Of course it was a huge shock. “When something like this happens to you it’s very hard to take in. At this time you see professors, oncologists, doctors and nurses and you receive so much information. While I have lived in Ireland for 16 years now and my English is very good I found it hard to understand and remember everything they said. It was a very anxious and confusing time for me and my husband Janusz. Everyone was so kind and supportive through. Professor Keane in Galway told me that, because I had found it early, he was sure the follow-on tests and results would all be good. He and I were both delighted when he was right!”

Thanks to her vigilance Anna’s cancer was found early, removed quickly and treatment could be kept to radiotherapy and hormone therapy only i.e. no need for chemotherapy. Anna attended University Hospital Galway for her radiotherapy. As she lives in Sligo and the radiotherapy sessions took place daily over 4 weeks, she stayed at Inis Aoibhinn, the lodge owned and run by Cancer Care West on the hospital grounds. Richard Keane, an oncology nurse at the lodge, said “We look after a number of young women with breast cancer here every year. For many the prognosis and treatment is much more difficult as the cancer is more advanced when found. Thankfully Anna was aware of what she should do and conscientious about doing it. As a result her treatment was brief and less invasive and it wasn’t long before she was ringing the ‘End of Treatment’ bell. Even through her treatment followed COVID guidelines and was interrupted by the cyber attack on the HSE, she was such a positive and happy person to be around. We will miss her here but are thrilled to see her get back to her daily life.”

Now Anna is looking forward to when she can travel back to Poland to hug her mother and thank her. It was through her insistence that Anna developed the routine habit of checking her breasts regularly and ultimately this was to lead to such a great outcome. Anna, Janusz and their son Patrick are looking forward now but Anna wants to spread the word “No matter who you are and what your lifestyle, know the symptoms and check yourself regularly”.

 

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 3 days a week at his dream job in the Galway Aquarium and spending quality time with his wife, Marie-Noelle at their home in Clifden, Galway. When Peter first noticed some digestive problems he put it down to his new diet but as the symptoms grew he realised that all was not normal. He went to his GP and over the course of a few months, he underwent some tests. Meantime the symptoms worsened so by the time Peter went for an MRI and colonoscopy he suspected that something serious was happening. In the end hearing the diagnosis of colorectal cancer was a huge shock but maybe not such a huge surprise.

Peter remembers the moment well “you are going along fine with life and then you get a sudden reality check – you are mortal and the man above is watching you”. A master carpet designer, who designed carpets for the Dáil, Peter uses an apt phrase “The rug was well and truly pulled from under me”. However Peter goes on to say that what happens next is probably less traumatic than you might expect. “Everyone in the system is so incredibly kind and caring. I put myself in their hands and am following their treatment plan and just getting on with it now. It’s a mixture of oral chemo and radiotherapy currently, with chemo via infusion to come, followed by surgery”. None of it is pleasant but Peter is taking it all in his quiet, unassuming way. Above all he is grateful for the wonderful support he is receiving from the oncology professionals who are looking after him throughout his cancer journey.

Among the various supports Peter is availing of is the offer of accommodation at Inis Aoibhinn, Cancer Care West’s lodge at University Hospital Galway (UCH). Peter stays at our lodge Monday to Friday while undergoing daily radiotherapy. Recently in their effort to catch up on treatment schedules delayed by the cyberattack, UCH radiotherapy has been operating over the weekend too and Inis Aoibhinn has also opened its doors on the weekends with Peter staying a few Saturdays as well. “It’s a fantastic place to be able to come to each week. The nurses and carers are beyond kind. Two of my sons live in Galway so can visit me (under COVID restrictions) and my colleagues from the Galway Aquarium have been so fantastic dropping over and picking me up in the van and taking me to visit the fish – one of the great passions of my life”.

The staff at Inis Aoibhinn, like Peter’s colleagues and family, admire his quiet way of getting on with what life has thrown at him recently. His down-to-earth manner belies the severity of his condition but his grace and humour shine through it all. Day by day he is getting on with his treatments and we hope that very soon he is back to his “paid hobby” with the fish and back to his normal life with Marie-Noelle in the heart of Connemara. Meantime it has been a privilege to have Peter in our care at Inis Aoibhinn.

Cancer Care West – Donegal Support Centre

I am a service user of Cancer Care West since summer 2017 since going through my chemotherapy treatment and surgery. From January 2017 to August 2017 and before I had my radiation treatment, I realised I needed extra support to recover from my diagnoses of breast cancer. I attended a counsellor in the Cancer Care West’s support centre in Letterkenny and she was very good at helping me cope with everything going on. I had a good network of family and friend’s but sessions with the counsellor helped me deal with everything at my own pace. I also used the centre for manual lymphatic drainage. This is a great service as there are very few practitioners in Donegal. When I finished my cancer treatment, I took part in a mindfulness course. Here I met a lovely bunch of people and we still meet on an ongoing basis. We all have CCW’s support centre as our link. The Support centre also provides yoga and reflexology for users both of which I have availed of. But for me the centre means more than a place to go for treatments. It has a lovely feel to it and you just feel better after a visit and a cup of tea there. I was re diagnosed this year and the centre was my first stop off point to help me get my head around the news. Cancer is growing in our society and places like Cancer Care West’s centre is vital for any patient or survivors and their families.

Letterkenny and Co Donegal are blessed to have these services available which are free to all who use them and are funded by donations.

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 near University Hospital in Galway where he would receive his treatment. He and his wife Ruby were delighted therefore when we were able to offer them accommodation at Inis Aoibhinn, our lodge run by Cancer Care West on the grounds of the hospital.   

Ruby was especially happy to be able to stay over with Eugene throughout the eight weeks. She describes the accommodation in Inis Aoibhinn as “beyond expectations” going on to say “the food was first class, the beds so comfortable and the staff couldn’t do enough for us.”   

To avoid having to ask family or friends to bring them to and from Inis Aoibhinn every week Eugene and Ruby travelled on the Cancer Care West bus from Ballina to the lodge on Monday mornings and back to Ballina on Friday afternoon. Ruby tells how delighted they were with this service also “It was a straight run to and from, with no stops, and we could be home in two hours on a Friday evening without disturbing anyone. To have all of this provided for free and with it to be shown such kindness and support was really marvellous.” 

Here at Inis Aoibhinn we were glad to be able to help this lovely couple and thrilled that Eugene is now finished his treatment and doing good. We wish them well as they board the Mayo bus for one last journey home but hope to see them again for a catch-up chat in the not too distant future.  

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 how he would get to and from Athlone to University Hospital Galway every day for the treatment. It was such a relief therefore when he was offered a place at Inis Aoibhinn, Cancer Care West’s facility at the hospital. The facility offers free lodging and meals to radiotherapy patients for the duration of their treatment allowing them to stay over near the hospital from Monday to Friday each week.  

Terry found the service above and beyond what he ever imagined it would be. “I was so comfortable at the lodge and everything was done for me so I didn’t have to worry about a single thing. On top of having all of this made available for me I also had access to a  service from Bluebird Care whereby someone came every day to accompany me to my treatment at the hospital. As a result, what I had feared would be such a difficult time to get organised and get through was actually a really good experience.”  Terry says that it was his daughter who had heard about Bluebird and was delighted when they confirmed they could offer this service. “It was such a relief for her that I was so well looked after, as she too could relax and not worry about me.”  

Terry completed a six week radiotherapy program and is now back in his home in Athlone. He remains very grateful for all the help he has received during this time and is clearly delighted with how lovely all the people were to him.  

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 in Ireland could not travel to be with him as he grieved for his beloved partner of 63 years. His then 16-year-old grandson, Philip, was especially upset to see his grandad so distressed and he was longing to do something for him that might bring a bit of light and cheer into his life again.

Over the next few weeks Philip worked on various ideas about how to reach out to Seán across the miles until finally settling on a virtual cycle to see his grandad. Philip worked out that it was 775km from Kiltullagh to South London so he created a chart that marked off the kilometres in 10km sections – 77 and a half of them. Calling grandad Seán he told him “I’m coming to see you grandad on my bike! It might take a while but I will get there.’  Philip knew that this gesture would mean a huge amount to Seán but he decided to take it a step further and make it mean a huge amount to others too. So he set up a GoFundMe page called ‘Cycling for My Nanny’ and added ‘and Cancer Awareness’ and chose Cancer Care West to be the beneficiary of the funds raised. His target was €1 for each kilometre – so €775 in all.

Starting on Sunday the 10^th January, Philip hit the roads around Kiltullagh, crossing off the kilometres covered each day on his chart. Day after day, in rain, wind and occasionally some Winter sun, Philip got further and further from home and closer to his grandad. When the weather turned too bad he turned to Raheen Woods Gym in Athenry and asked for the loan of a stationary bicycle which they gladly donated. Philip continued to grind out the miles.

While Philip was doing all the hard labour his sister, Layla, decided to throw her energy into helping him but more wisely maybe did it from the comfort of home and on her laptop. Layla composed an email, detailing Philip’s efforts and sent it around to various news outlets and online forums. Soon Philip’s efforts got some attention and the coverage flowed in. Two of the highlights were when Eleanor Mannion of RTÉ interviewed Philip, Layla and Séan over Zoom and posted a lovely video of them online with an article detailing Philip’s challenge and when Jennifer Zamparelli on 2fm also interviewed Philip on her morning show.

For most of January and all of February and March Philip stuck to his commitment, cycling every day and making regular calls to Seán updating him on his progress. As all of this was done within the 5km COVID-19 restrictions limit it has to have taken a special dedication to grind through the daily cycles.  Finally at the beginning of April the end was in sight as on Monday April 5^th Philip virtually reached Barriedale, London – the home of his grandad.

At Cancer Care West we think Philip is an exceptional young man with a big heart. His challenge highlights how much can be achieved within a 5km limit, with very little support and with just your family in Kiltullagh and London to cheer you on every day. Philip also credits the wonderful support he received online through his Instagram diary and Facebook page. ‘Such kind and supportive messages really helped me to keep going.’ We are delighted that Philip did keep going and we are very grateful for the funds he raised as the initial €750 target was blown out of the water as the funds received topped €5,000!

Our thanks to Philip, Layla, Seán and the Killeen family. We know that Nanny Mary is looking on with such pride and there is no doubt that her spirit lives on in the amazing bond she and Seán have with their grandchildren.

 

 

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 her two-year old grandson and keep up with her treatments and therapies. Her energy levels may seem high to many of us but Vanessa usually has the energy of 2 to 3 people of her age so right now it’s a lot to keep on top of. Her husband, Ocky, is her greatest supporter and her family are her rock but its not easy. So when she made the decision to stay at Inis Aoihinn while going though 6 weeks of radiotherapy at Galway University Hospital it was with a slightly heavy heart. “I talked it over with Ocky and we decided that it was the best thing to do rather than face into the long journey to and from Sligo every day” Vanessa said. “But I was afraid I would miss the children and I would feel isolated and alone while there.”

And so she began her stay at “The Lodge” coming down every Monday and returning home on a Friday night. Vanessa had heard about the place from friends who had stayed there but she didn’t really know what to expect. “It has turned into such an unexpected source of comfort and support, I couldn’t really do it justice” Vanessa went on to describe. “The peace of mind and quiet time I get here each week just sets me up for the weekend with my kids and grandson, Logan. I can give them so much more of my energy over the weekend knowing I will return to the Lodge and can rest there the following week, as I receive my treatment.”

The care and support of the staff is another huge upside to her weekly stays. “I can relax and just concentrate on myself and my needs because literally everything else is done for me. The nurses are so kind and caring. I don’t have to worry about symptoms or side effects or anything at all. I just have to phone to their office and they look after me.”

The really important upside for Vanessa though has been her ability to go through this time without dragging the ups and downs of it into her children’s day to day lives.  So when she goes back again to Sligo on a Friday night she can cuddle up with Rollo and Bella and have a lovely movie night. “It’s hard being a mum when you are sick so you have to make the best of the times you can be with the children and give them the best of you that you can. Inis Aoibhinn means I can do this and this is a very precious gift for me.”

Vanessa is a lovely, inspirational and positive person. She is making the best of everything she has to do as she gets through this time. Our staff at Inis Aoibhinn are so happy to look after and help her, because Vanessa deserves all the help we can give her. We will miss her when she finishes her treatment but we hope to see her for a cuppa and a chat anytime she is in town.

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 at the time prior to his diagnosis, Cedric can see there were a few signs that everything might not be right but these symptoms were almost unnoticeable, especially when everything else seemed so normal. So it was a profound shock for him when he received his cancer diagnosis following a routine check with his GP.

Immediately after my diagnosis I felt a bit overwhelmed and struggled to come to terms with what this meant for me and my family. Decisions on treatment were made quickly and I had my surgery soon after and thankfully this went well. Even better I didn’t require further treatment so my physical recovery also went well. However, the mental health side of my diagnosis was a lot more difficult to manage and this is where I really needed more longer-term support.

The Cancer Care West Support Centre therefore has been an integral part of my cancer journey as this is where I have received most of my psychological counselling and also where I found the space in which I could come to terms with everything. My counsellor is Ulrike Kennedy and she has been an amazing help to me, understanding the impact having cancer has had on me and those around me. Moving from the traditional role of provider and protector of my family to that of someone who needs support myself has been difficult but Ulrike has helped me put this in perspective. Even on the days when all I felt like doing is moaning, Ulrike and her colleagues were there for me with a warm welcome, a cup of tea and the wise words to pick you up and keep you going.

With the advent of COVID-19 in 2020 everyone’s lives changed dramatically and life became quite difficult for us all. Thankfully, Cancer Care West managed to keep the majority of their services going throughout. Counselling sessions over the phone and Zoom Yoga classes have remained vital to my ongoing recovery. When other supports I was availing of were closed they have remained accessible and I am very grateful for this.

I am well on the road to recovery now and I am looking forward to the future and all it will bring. Without question my wife has been my biggest support and has gotten me through it all. But we could not have done it alone and Cancer Care West has filled that gap and made such a difference to my cancer story.

John Slattery and his children Lewis and Sarah had their world turned upside down in December 2019 when John’s wife Yvonne lost her battle to cancer. The beautiful, talented and caring mum was no longer a physical presence in their lives and the hole left in their hearts was gigantic.  In the 15 months since, they have gone on to deal with their loss both individually and as a family and they have been helped in this by many caring and supportive relatives and friends, colleagues and organisations. John is extremely grateful for this support but singles out one organisation for the highest praise for how they have been there for the family and that organisation is Cancer Care West.

Throughout Yvonne’s illness Dr Mairead Brennan and Dr Damien Connolly, Clinical Psychologists at Cancer Care West, have been stalwarts in their support bubble. Working mainly with the children Mairead created a space for them in which they felt safe and gave them the language in which they could voice their fears, anger and distress. Following on from Yvonne’s death Mairead continued to provide this support structure and the children benefited hugely from her interventions. Then COVID came along and the in-person sessions were suspended. At this time John remembers that “unlike many people who found this a difficult time in their lives the first lockdown was actually an unlikely blessing for me, Lewis and Sarah. It gave us an opportunity to close down a bit from the outside world and just to be together – the three of us – holding on and healing.” John took a massive step back from his professional life and between them they sowed the seeds of a new life, still sad but stronger and more resilient. John believes that the foundation for this time of recovery was laid by Mairead and Damien and their input gave them the emotional vocabulary they needed to interact, talk and work through their feelings.

More recently John was delighted when Mairead contacted him to ask if Sarah would like to join a new remote therapy group called CUBS which stands for Children United in Bereavement Support, that she and her colleague, Clinical Psychologist Dr Cathy O’ Sullivan, were setting up for children bereaved by cancer.  The group consists of 5-6 children and is run online in a series of 1 hourly sessions over 8 weeks. The aim of the program is to help foster recovery from their grief while building an emotional stability which will help them move forward. While it is early in the program John can see that it that it is helping Sarah and she is happy to attend the sessions. “Sarah is a brave little soul and this program gives her the relaxed space in which she can process her grief in the company of other children. It would be better for the children to be able to do this in person but to have something like this at all during this time is a massive help and I am very grateful to Mairead for giving Sarah this opportunity”.

From the beginning when Yvonne was diagnosed the family have being coming to Cancer Care West to avail of their services. John likes the fact that the organisation is just there for them with no agenda. “We have always been open with the children and others about Yvonne’s diagnosis but it was still hard to open up completely about the true impact of what we were going through. Mairead understood and gave us the place and time to process so much. It was a difficult time for us as a couple but with her support we found the strength to get through what was in the end a short and extremely painful time.”

As John watches his little girl adjust her looks in the visor mirror as they head off on a journey, he sees her mum shine out in her every movement and expression. He is very proud of her and Lewis. “They are great kids and I know that, while the loss of Yvonne is immense, we are a tight knit unit and we will learn to live with our grief and make a good life for ourselves. This is in some measure due to the help we have received from Mairead and Cancer Care West.”