Offaly breast cancer patient calls on public to support Irish Cancer Society campaign

Breast cancer patient Sandra Kavanagh from Banagher is supporting the Irish Cancer Society's Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and encouraging the public to host a Big Pink Breakfast to help fund vital breast cancer support services and life-changing breast cancer research projects.

Sandra (45) discovered a lump on her breast while having a bath at home. Following a visit to her GP, she was referred on for further testing. It was following this appointment, Sandra received a diagnosis of hormone positive, Invasive ductal carcinoma. Sandra was booked in for surgery and is currently receiving chemotherapy treatment.

Sandra said: “Pick a day once a month, and check your breasts, get to know them. I had noticed a smaller lump and some dimpling a few months before I first went to my GP, but put it down to stretch marks from having my kids and dismissed the lump as nothing serious. I was also incredibly tired each evening, but put it down to post-covid fatigue. If I had got checked out earlier, things could have been much easier for me.

“Before I got sick, I worked as a carer. One gentleman I cared for, was living with his own cancer diagnosis. When I went to the hospital one day to get my chemotherapy, I met that same gentleman, who I not long before, had been caring for. It’s incredible how quickly everything can change.

“I would encourage everyone to please get behind the Big Pink Breakfast campaign, a huge amount of the funding for the Irish Cancer Society’s breast cancer support services and breast cancer research projects comes from donations made by the public. If you are at all able, please support this important cause.”

Cancer Nurse at the Irish Cancer Society, Caroline O’Sullivan, said: “Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Ireland. Over 3,400 women and approximately 30 men are diagnosed with it each year. It is vital therefore that everyone be ‘breast aware.' Thankfully, most breast cancers are diagnosed at an earlier stage. The earlier you are diagnosed, the more treatment options are available to you, including surgery, radiotherapy, and drug therapies.

This October the Irish Cancer Society is encouraging people to host a Big Pink Breakfast in their homes, workplaces, communities and colleges to raise funds to support breast cancer support services such as free counselling, transport to chemotherapy, Night Nursing and much more. Funds raised will also be used to fund ground-breaking breast cancer research projects.

If you are concerned about breast cancer, call the Irish Cancer Society’s Support Line on Freephone 1800 200 700. You can also find out more at www.cancer.ie.

To learn more or get involved, please visit www.cancer.ie/PinkBreakfast