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I’m going to do six months of chemotherapy. It’s going to be rough, but at the end of it they’re going to tell me that I’m cured and I can go back to my life.
LOUISE MCSHARRY’S DOCUMENTARY F**k Cancer aired on RTÉ Two last night and it got a huge reaction.
The programme followed the 2FM DJ, who is formerly of this parish, as she underwent treatment for Hodkin’s lymphoma. It gave a very honest account of dealing with cancer, coping with chemotherapy and hair loss, and trying to find a wedding dress.
In the first scenes of the documentary, Louise gets her hair shaved off.
“It’s not a hair cut I would choose but I don’t have a choice,” she admits.
“Miley Cyrus is going to be jealous of me because of all of the attention I’m going to get.”
During the show, Louise meets other people who are dealing with a cancer diagnoses and explores the fact her chances of having children have been reduced by her treatment.
Last month Louise and her partner Gordon Spierin got married.
The programme got a hugely positive reaction online, with people’s praising Louise’s honesty and humour.
Louise McSharry / TwitterSo we're all clear on the fact that the hashtag for tonight includes the first RTE endorsed profanity, right? #FuckCancer
— Louise McSharry (@louisemcsharry) September 17, 2015
Síle Seoige / TwitterCancer jokes.
— Síle Seoige (@SileSeoige) September 17, 2015
Such an Irish way of coping.
I can completely relate.#fuckcancer
EmerTheScreamer / TwitterLouise and I went to the cinema in the days after she had her head shaved and she was so vulnerable but her usual brilliant self #fuckcancer
— Emer McLysaght 🏳️⚧️ (@EmerTheScreamer) September 17, 2015
Mary Lou McDonald / TwitterBravo @louisemcsharry #legend#fuckcancer
— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) September 17, 2015
Sinéad Burke / Twitter#FuckCancer had so much honesty and heart. @louisemcsharry is amazing but @gordonspierin is too. They deserve every happiness & dream.
— Sinéad Burke (@TheSineadBurke) September 17, 2015
Darren McMahon / TwitterWatching @louisemcsharry's Fuck Cancer. Finding it very inspirational and reminding me of my diagnosis back in 2011💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/4NVoABdjcC
— Darren McMahon (@DarrenMcMahon54) September 17, 2015
Louise McSharry / TwitterStupid Twitter won't let me see all the messages from last night, but THANK YOU for all your kindness. It means an awful lot. <3 #fuckcancer
— Louise McSharry (@louisemcsharry) September 18, 2015
You can watch F**k Cancer here.
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As someone who has seen friends beat cancer and seen friends fighting to the end I would say to the hero comment that above that
Some are heroes that beat cancer
And some are heroes that fought to the end but Heroes All
I thought it was a fantastic documentary – because Louise McSharry is fantastic. Really felt for her trying on wedding dresses “whilst sweating like a beast”. F**k Cancer is right!
wasn’t expecting much when I turned it on but turned out to be brilliant
I don’t know Louise McSharry and I wish her all the best but I do find it uncomfortable when cancer survivors are seen as heroes. Does that mean that the people who aren’t as fortunate are not heroes?
Of course they are heroes. Stop being a negative Noeleen in an otherwise positive comments thread.
your spot on beano that whole “I didn’t let cancer beat me” drives me mad.
@Beano The first question I asked the doctor last year was “what’s the worst case scenario here?” and the reply was “the same for all cancers; death”. It isn’t heroism in the sense of doing something for the greater good. It’s heroism in the sense of having courage in a time of adversity. My chances of being dead within 10 years are 60% yet I don’t actually have cancer any more. I’m only 33. These are just the stats. 60% of people with my cancer die within 10 years. Every cancer has a stat like this. You can’t even begin to understand how things like that can affect a person. There is no “all clear”. You just get to a point where the odds are similar to those of the average person. You do the surgery, the treatment etc. you try to be normal. I couldn’t taste food for 3 months. I don’t feel like a hero. it has taken a long time to feel normal again. Support and encouragement helped me a lot. Calling someone a hero costs nothing but it can help people and in some cases it is the truth.
If the furthest you can run is 10km then imagine if you have no option but to do another 200km. Try to stay positive when you’re 40km in knowing the challenge ahead. Encouragement helps.
Courageous lady. She looked cancer in the eye and said it won’t beat her, it won’t stop her planning a future and inspired other cancer patients hopeful not to become depressed. Mental health and mental strength are such an important part of fighting this illness.
I wasn’t going to watch the show last night, as my experience of the Reality Bites series before, was more akin to Reality Lites! I got a message from my mate around 10pm asking me was I watching, when I replied in the negative she encouraged me to tune in asap.
I’m only sorry I hadn’t watched from the start. Outstanding! Raw, emotional, starkly honest, Louise brought the Reality to the show, not the sanitised version we’re used to. A groundbreaker from RTE, can’t remember anything they have broadcast before that was so personally affecting.
Thank you Louise, you’re a gem with a gem of a husband, I wish you both a long, healthy and happy life!
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