Youll do anything to stay alive

Ballyfore mother Triona Hanley was weeks away from emigrating to Australia with her family when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She had noticed what she describes as a “small indentation” on one of her breasts a couple of weeks previously and didn’t think much about it. It was only when she brought her then two-year-old daughter to the doctor with a flu that she remembered to mention it.

“I wasn’t worried but within 24 hours I was in St Vincent’s getting a mammogram, which turned into an ultrasound, which turned into a biopsy.”
Within days, Triona’s worst fears were realised and she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“It came as a massive shock. Our lives just changed in an instant, a blink of an eye. All our plans for Australia were out of the window. There was no way we could go. I started my treatment three weeks later.”

Triona, who shaved her long blonde hair after her diagnosis, was given chemotherapy for four months, which came in three weekly intervals. Aside from the “very scary experience” of going into anaphylactic shock during her second bout of chemo, she says that it went relatively well. It did, however, leave her physically and mentally “floored” at times.

“It’s hard from a physical point of view, you look so different. I would have been self conscious during the treatment and wouldn’t have went up town without a full face of make up and you’d hope that someone would say that you’re looking well. For me, if I made myself look well and presented myself well, it made me feel better. Also there were other women who had been diagnosed in the town around the time and you’d almost feel like an ambassador for not feeling too bad.”

While the chemo had worked to a point in reducing the tumour in her breast, she was told by her medical team in St Vincent’s that she’d had to have a mastectomy followed by radiotherapy.

While it was a major procedure, Triona, who praised her husband John for his support, says that the she didn’t think twice about it.

“Your attitude changes when you are diagnosed with cancer, all you want to do is stay alive, you don’t mind what they do to you as long as you stay alive.”
Thankfully, the mastectomy and radiotherapy were successful and four years later Triona is healthy and enjoying life.

Her recovery journey was helped, she says, by her decision to have reconstruction surgery a year after her mastectomy.

“I have to say it was life changing. I know a lot haven’t had it done but for me, as a woman, it was everything. I don’t see scars everyday. It’s helped me come full circle.”

Triona will be attending the Relay for Life fund-raiser in Derry Rovers Park, Edenderry, next Saturday September 12. A 24 hour event, Relay for Life, is organised by local supporters of the Irish Cancer Society.

The event raised over €15,000 last year, and Triona says that every Euro will be well spent helping those that need it most.

“The financial cost of having cancer is enormous. The Cancer Society help families as much as they can but to go from being a two-income family, with mortgage and all the bills the came, to one income. I was self employed as well so I was entitled to nothing.”

Events like Relay for Life, not only raise much needed funds they also raise awareness for the services out there for people battling cancer and their families.

“It’s a wonderful event. There’s such a lovely atmosphere. There are a lot of tears and emotion, particularly at the candle procession but it’s beautiful. It’s also amazing ot see how many people have been affected by cancer,” she said.