A Very Pink Tribe

Cavan woman urges people to think pink for cancer

Less than two years after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, Cavan woman Mary Keane is making the most of life and even stepping into the public eye as a patient supporter for Breast Cancer Ireland’s 2025 Very Pink Run.

At just 32 years, Mary’s world was turned upside down when she noticed a lump on her breast. Trusting her instincts, the Bailieborough woman immediately made an appointment with her GP, which led to a biopsy at the Mater Hospital.

While waiting on those results, Mary and husband Jimmy received the most unexpectedly joyous news - she was pregnant.

“I was so happy when I found out. It was amazing news. But then I received the results of the biopsy and I was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer. It felt like everything was falling apart,” shares Mary.

With targeted cancer therapies posing a risk to her unborn child, Mary and Jimmy were faced with a immediate and heartbreaking decision - terminate the pregnancy or see Mary continue without receiving the full treatment needed.

“Horrendous, absolutely horrendous,” says Mary of the sleepless hours the couple spent weighing up the options.

Ultimately, Mary says the she “couldn’t bear the thought” of a termination.

“So we decided to keep our baby. Going through pregnancy and having cancer was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced. But it turned out to be the best decision of our lives,” explains Mary, who speaks to the Celt while nursing her now 15-month old son at the Dublin home she shares with husband Jimmy.

For Mary, she found refuge and strength in the arms of her family back home in Cavan.

“Myself and mam would be very close. If I was having a really crap day, we’d get out of the house, go for coffee, or go baby shopping. It took my mind off things.”

The journey was a difficult one. Mary endured a mastectomy at 10 weeks pregnant and began chemotherapy just four weeks later. Over the following months, she underwent five more gruelling rounds of chemo, and just before she began chemo in February 2024 an MRI scan confirmed the cancer had metastasised to her hip bone.

While stage four metastatic breast cancer is not considered curable, treatments can help manage the disease.

Mary’s son Daithí was born at 32 weeks and, even after that, she endured another 15 rounds of chemo.

“I’ll be treated for the rest of my life,” says Mary of her cancer diagnosis.

She receives injections at the Mater Hospital every three weeks, as well as hormone-blocking injections administered monthly by her public health nurse. These treatments, while life-extending, come with their own challenges.

“This shuts down my ovaries and has put my body into menopause,” she explains. “I have really bad joint pain from the injections and tablets. You try to outweigh the negatives with positives, but God, the negatives sometimes do catch up on you.”

Yet through it all, Mary continues to fight. One important part of that has been her regular visits to Cuan Cancer Care in Cavan Town, where she receives acupuncture therapy.

“It doesn’t take away the pain, but the stress relief it gives me is just as important.”

She has also made a conscious effort to improve her strength and energy levels by returning to the gym, which she says has helped her cope with fatigue.

Over the last year, Mary has connected with others fighting similar battles. Among them is Tara Doonan from Bawnboy, another young Cavan woman diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Two Cavan girls, both on this journey. It makes me feel less alone.”

Like Tara and so many others, Mary shares her story in the hope of inspiring others.

“There are so many metastatic girls out there, my age too,” Mary reflects. “You can’t blame it on lifestyle. It just comes out of the blue. It’s scary.”

She’s proud to be a Patient Supporter for Breast Cancer Ireland’s Very Pink Run 2025 - an inclusive, fun-filled event raising crucial funds for breast cancer research and awareness.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she says of the Dublin event on September 6 at Leopardstown Racecourse. “Jimmy’s doing it, and a good few from work too. It’ll be lovely to catch up with everyone.”

Mary also recently participated in the Women’s Mini Marathon and is building momentum in her advocacy efforts.

Since it began, the Very Pink Run has raised €7.3M, with over 97,000 participants from 40 countries. This year’s runs will take place across Dublin, Cork, and Kilkenny between September 6-14, with both 5k and 10k routes available, and even a virtual option for those unable to attend in person.

Funds raised this year will go directly to support research into metastatic disease progression to the brain.

These efforts are vital. Every 29 seconds, someone in the world is diagnosed with breast cancer and in Ireland alone, 3,700 people are diagnosed each year - 23% of them under the age of 50 years.

Mary doesn’t shy away from the realities of her diagnosis. But she also doesn’t let it define her.

“There’s always hope,” she says. “About 20 years ago this treatment wouldn’t have existed. I’m thankful. There are good days and bad days.”

Her goal, as she puts it, is simple: “Stretch it out as long as possible. I’ll be on medication forever more, and please God, for a very long time.”

Register now at www.verypinkrun.ie, select your city (Dublin, Cork, or Kilkenny) or run virtually between September 6–14, and become part of the Very Pink Tribe.