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IF YOUR GUT instinct tells you something’s wrong, it usually is.
In 2007 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I discovered a lump and had a mammogram which instantly showed something was wrong. But I knew that.
Within one week I had the tumour removed, a lumpectomy. I had my nodes checked, they were clear, that was good. And suddenly I was in day care oncology having my first infusion of chemotherapy.
My treatment
I had six sessions of chemotherapy followed by 32 radiotherapy treatments. I was exhausted but couldn’t sleep, nauseated but needed to eat and bald. I got a wig so I wouldn’t be too conspicuous on the school run.
My children were 12, 13 and 15 at the time and I was terrified that they would lose their mother. Now I know everyone says ‘you’d never know that was a wig, it’s so natural looking.’ It wasn’t, it looked like a wig.
I would leave it on the shelf inside the kitchen door as soon as I got home and one day I walked into the kitchen to find the Jack Russell had it in his mouth growling and wrestling with it on kitchen floor thinking it was some sort of animal.
I was devastated
I recovered well following the treatment and things were good. My oncologist was happy.
In 2009 I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer, some of the cancer cells had travelled to my liver and metastasised there. I was devastated. My oncologist, who is not a man easily defeated, started me on intensive chemotherapy for nine months followed by a maintenance dose for the following two years (the dodgy wig was resurrected).
The chemotherapy would see the liver tumours become inactive. I began to get a glimmer of hope that I might just survive this. And I did. I continued to have a Herceptin infusion every three weeks and things were looking good.
I have CT scans every three months, which can be exhausting. I am always an emotional wreck waiting for the results. I have no patience and want to know instantly.
Horrifying, terrifying
Five years into the three monthly scans I was told: ‘You have a brain tumour’. The oncologist is a straight talker. The breast cancer cells had travelled to my brain. The thought of cancer in my brain was horrific, terrifying.
To make a long story short, I had the tumour removed followed by a very specific stereotactic radiotherapy and eventually I was declared fit and in remission again.
Cancer treatment is not for the faint hearted. I now have three monthly MRIs followed by CT scans and amazingly enough things are good again. The surgeries, the three weekly infusions, the CTs and MRIs have all become part of my normality. It is amazing what you can get used to.
My support system
I have an amazing husband – a saint actually. Three wonderful children, who are now in their twenties who have helped me, laughed with me and cried with me.
It was awful for them I actually think that was the worst thing of all, my beautiful teenage children growing up with a mother with cancer. I felt so sad for them.
I have the best friends in the world who share my black sense of humour and who are the best therapists a girl could ask for.
People survive cancer and people can live quite happily alongside cancer. I have been doing that for the past 11 years. We are lucky we live in an age where new research and new treatments are being constantly discovered.
The money you give on Daffodil Day is funding lifesaving cancer research.
Liz Burke is from Delgany, Co Wicklow. Since 2010 the Irish Cancer Society have invested €25m in research – all of which is from donations like those given on Daffodil Day. Your support saves lives. Buy a daffodil on the day, donate now at cancer.ie/daffodilday or text ‘Daff’ to 50300 to donate €4. Text costs €4. Irish Cancer Society will receive a minimum of €3.60. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 076 6805278.
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Irish when it suits them and pro Israeli solely because Republicans came out as Pro Palestinian.
@Sean Higgins: They are 100% right for siding with Israel and not with the
antisemitic Irish govt.
@Sean Higgins:
Provo Sinn Fein, Irish when there’s cash to be made,
British when there’s Taxes to be payed.
@Johnny Wilson: yeah, the only way to fight terrorism is to slaughter women and children,oh and dont forget to bomb a few hospitals
@Billy Joe: or the fascist Israelis
@H Woo: or paid
@Thomas Devlin: you mean the tunnels where the co wards hide out
@Sean Higgins: Don’t be silly – didn’t the Unionists treat Catholics exactly the same way the Isrealis treated the Palestinians – as second class citizens in their OWN country ! It’s the Colonists mentality!
That Penjelly wan loves anything Orange!
@Lulu: like the incel thumb bum chums on here!
We here in Ireland and the EU need to become less dependent on the US ,They have showen they prefer the politics of division and hate , Over decency and integrity, And who wants to be in partnership with a country that elected the Crying lying orange thing twice.
@Robert Halvey: Read the usual bigoted comments on the DUP politician. When it comes to “division and hate” this country is top dog
@Robert Halvey: you have TDS get yourself some help.
@brendan C5: no just a bullxxxt detection ability that can see that the crying lying orange think ,has been playing the poorly educated US citizens like a cheap fiddle he’s whole life
@Robert Halvey: You say poorly educated, yet you can’t use punctuation marks properly, nor can you spell.
God, they are really getting the z-listers over at this stage.
Classic DUP, had SF gone they’d be out!
@Any Name: sf too busy attending funerals
DUD says…. Yes?
Trump couldn’t give a rat’s a$$ about any of them.
@Gerard Carey: Do you think they give a rats ass about him? They are just appeasing a bully for the sake of their country.
@Sean Hayes: Yeah ok. That’s a good one never thought of that.
@Gerard Carey: he doesn’t about anyone that isn’t of use to him, and the second they aren’t, they are out.
@Sean Hayes: Well at least they would know who he is.
@Sean Hayes: yeah like the brits did in 1939, remember peace in our time?
Next up after PM gets handed his a&@e
Trump has bigger fish to fry, sorting out Ukraine. As for Emma, I do like the cut of her jib.
@Dan Murphy: she’d probably step over us all in the street. But yeah, the cut of her jib, brilliant.
Ireland is such an embarrassment right now.
@Ulick:
Why?
Why shouldn’t she go, good luck to her.
Can’t see Martin or Harris getting an invite. I can see the Unionist person getting a warm welcome at least there still Irish people even they considered themselves not Irish and want Northern Ireland to benefit but the southern part political parties are wedded to EU,Ukraine and other non Irish agendas.
Macron and the other adults discussing world politics with Trump. Ireland doing the catering with dried veg in a bowl. That bowel might come in handy though.
This is quite good. The politician who considers herself British goes abroad on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate being Irish, and the one who considers herself Irish stays at home. You couldn’t make it up!
Boylan got the boot, Lol.Seriously, Europe should not be visa free for Israel. Why are they treated different to others in the region. Let them apply to enter Europe like the rest.
Some are invited by University’s and other educational industry’s but on a political basis! NO ONE HAS BEING INVITED.
Does anyone care?
A good move by the DUP First Minister. At the end of the day there is ‘real politik.’ SFs move could potentially jeopardise inward investment in NI.
Another career politician that’s attempt to milk the spotlight. What is going on in recent weeks with all these politicians, both in Ireland and Northern Ireland, making out as if they can just show up without an official invitation? The only person who can issue an invitation to the White House for the St. Patrick’s Day event is President Trump. In any case, the DUP have gotten one over Sinn Fein. Michelle O’Neill ran her mouth and looked very unprofessional. Saying that you’re not going to something that you were never invited to is pretty laughable. Sinn Fein have always been about virtue-signalling and cheap political ploys over getting anything useful done for the people of Northern Ireland. Their support for terrorism and Hamas has always been disgusting.
H……unbelievable
No surprise there – Loyalists – they are fully supportive of Genocidal Isreal and Nethenahu in the slaughter of the Palestinian i their OWN land !! It’s the Colonists mentality. Exactly the same way the Unionists treated Catholics in the Occupied 6 Counties of Ireland – their OWN land !!
I wonder if she’s one of them Protestants agin the auld Gaelige. If she is it’s a bit Irish to be celebrating Lá ‘le Phádraig!
Well i think shes a rather attractive lady..Protestant or catholic i dont mind…i would date her..well as long as she pays half the bill which im sure she would.
have your say