‘Early detection saves lives’

Accompanied by a group of friends, Níamh McDonald (35) embarked upon a sea swim in February this year to raise funds for Cuan Cancer Care.

Taking to the waters of Malahide Beach, the group of nurses raised €3000 for Cuan, which supported Níamh greatly during her journey with breast cancer.

It was a massive day for the Cootehill woman last Tuesday when the Celt called; she had just received a fully clear CT scan and completed her first day back at work since her diagnosis.

"They eased me in nice and gently so it was all good," the Holles Street nurse revealed.

This time last year, she found a lump on her breast, when she immediately went to have a triple assessment done.

"From that day it was all systems go, it was very obvious that I had breast cancer. I was living in Dublin so I attended St Vincent's Hospital. Everyone there was amazing, they were so good and I got seen very quickly," she reported of her care.

Níamh underwent chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. During this time, the Cootehill woman attended Cuan Cancer Care.

"I can't imagine going through it now without having their support, you walk in and it's just like family.

"You just have a cup of tea and you put the world to right really," she described.

On a "more practical" note, she said Cuan provide "brilliant services" such as counselling, acupuncture and lymphatic massages, a "necessity" for Níamh who still attends the service.

"I actually got the results of my CT today as well and all clear," she beamed.

Now at the other side of her journey, the nurse shared her advice with other women out there who may be hesitant to get checked out.

According to Breast Cancer Ireland, the eight signs and symptoms to look out for are puckering of the skin of the breast, a lump in the breast or armpit, a change in the skin around the nipple or nipple discharge, dimpling of the nipple or nipple retraction, an unusual increase in the size of one breast, one breast unusually lower than the other meaning the nipples are at different levels, an enlargement of the glands or an unusual swelling in the armpit.

"Don't be thinking about it, don't be sitting on it, just go and get it checked out because most of the time it's going to absolutely fine and your anxieties are going to be gone.

"If it is [cancer] early detection saves lives."