Irish Cancer Society

07/10/2026

Hazel Farrell, 54, who lives in Wexford, had fibrous tissue in her left breast for many years. It felt stringy, and she had it checked and it was confirmed that everything was fine. However, in October 2025, she began to notice some fibrous tissue developing in her right breast for the first time.

“I didn’t have a lump. It just felt fibrous, like rope underneath the skin,” says mother-of-two Hazel. “My GP checked it and said it seemed fine, but he referred me to a Breast Clinic just to be sure.

“When I went to the Breast Clinic, the doctor said it seemed like it was just more fibrous tissue, but he told me that he’d send me for a mammogram for due diligence.

“The first indication that anything was wrong was when, after the mammogram, the consultant radiologist came in and said that I’d also need to get an ultrasound and a biopsy.

“I asked him, ‘Does the biopsy mean there could be something dodgy there?’ and he said he wouldn’t be doing a biopsy if there wasn’t."

Two weeks later, Hazel received her diagnosis of HER2-positive, HR-negative breast cancer. It came as a total shock to her.

“The majority of breast cancers are hormone related, but mine isn’t. It’s HER2-positive; it’s aggressive and it isn’t genetic,” says Hazel, whose mother passed away from a different type of breast cancer.

“It felt like I had a total loss of control. I felt a lot of anger about it. It felt really unfair, and I lost trust in my own body – that was a massive thing. It felt like my body had betrayed me.

“When I saw the breast surgeon, after I got my official results, he said I’d need chemo, surgery and radiotherapy and he told me that after treatment there was still a chance that the cancer could come back. It all felt like too much.”

Read Hazel's story in full: https://brnw.ch/21x6ehb

06/10/2026

“You don’t realise how strong you are until you have to be. Just make sure you surround yourself with positive people and be ruthless about who you give your energy to. Your body is incredible – it’s more resilient than you realise.”

Fiona O’Flynn from Dublin was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. Her diagnosis came about after she went to her GP for an unrelated condition.

“I developed carpal tunnel syndrome but didn’t know what it was at the time, so I went to my GP,” says mother-of-three Fiona.

“While I was there, I asked her to examine my breast because it seemed like my right breast was bigger than the other, and had denser tissue, but there was no lump.”

Fiona was referred to a breast clinic in August 2020 where she had a triple assessment: a mammogram, an ultrasound and a biopsy. A week later, she received her diagnosis.

“They told me I had breast cancer and it had spread to my lymph nodes,” she says. “I was shell shocked. You go for these checks, and you assume everything will be fine. I’d had cysts and lumpy tissue in the past, so I’d been through these checks before.

"But this time, it was real, it was actually happening. I felt like my number was up. I was very shocked on one hand and slightly resigned on the other, given the high incidence of breast cancer.

“I was sent for an MRI, and luckily the cancer was localised even though the lymph nodes were affected.”

After this, Fiona underwent a right-side mastectomy. Six weeks later, she started chemotherapy which ended in February 2021. Throughout March 2021, she had radiotherapy.

“It was all very quick. There were no delays. I was relieved to have a plan so I could focus on what was coming next.

“I also remember being given some Irish Cancer Society booklets, they were very useful. When you’re reading them, you realise the things you are going through are totally normal.”

Read Fiona's story in full: https://brnw.ch/21x6cOo

06/10/2026

Want to lower your risk of breast cancer? One of the most powerful things you can do is move more.

Regular physical activity has been shown to reduce breast cancer risk, especially after menopause. But you don't need to become a marathon runner overnight. Start where you are and build from there.

The goal is simple: move more and sit less. Talk to your GP if you have any concerns!

Learn more at https://brnw.ch/21x6cb8

05/10/2026

Cancer affects every family in Ireland. Right now, more than 230,000 people in Ireland are living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis, and over 46,000 more will hear the words “you have cancer” for the first time this year.

What we don't hear about quite as much is what happens to a person’s or family's finances after that diagnosis lands.

Writing in today's Irish Examiner ahead of tomorrow, Irish Cancer Society CEO Nikki Gallagher says cancer patients and their loved ones should not be choosing between heating their homes and treatment.

That's why, ahead of Budget 2027, the Irish Cancer Society is asking Government for three practical, costed measures to address financial hardship.

First, automatic access to medical cards for all cancer patients, from diagnosis through the duration of their treatment so no one has to fight through multiple appeals.

Second, reduce the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold to €40 a month or less for cancer patients, easing the relentless cost of medication for those without a medical card.

Thirdly, an automatic entitlement to the Fuel Allowance and Household Benefits Package for patients with an advanced or end-of-life diagnosis, so nobody has to choose between traveling for treatment or heating their home in their final weeks.

Together, these measures would cost a little over €87 million. Against a health budget running into the billions, and in a country of Ireland's means, that is not an extravagant ask. However, financial hardship is only part of the challenge facing cancer patients.

Read here:

People going through cancer treatment should be able to focus on getting well rather than their finances or any delays to their treatment, writes Nikki Gallagher, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society

04/10/2026

Three years after her diagnosis, Katie is sharing a message of hope.

Katie was involved in our breast cancer awareness campaign last year and remains passionate about encouraging people to check themselves and seek help if something doesn't feel right.

"I'm incredibly proud to have been part of the campaign. For me, it was always about raising awareness. If even one person checked themselves, if one cancer was caught earlier, then raising awareness was worth doing."

"Three years on from my diagnosis, life is good. I feel more like myself again and grateful to be able to share a message of hope. If breast cancer is caught early, you can get through it, and you will come out the other side. It's not easy, but there is hope."

"Donations are vital. Without donations, we wouldn't have the research, supports, and services that the Irish Cancer Society provides. Research helps inform and improve treatment plans and survival rates, while our supports help people navigate their cancer journey."

04/10/2026

Cancer patients learn a lot, including managing daily life while in treatment, minding their mental health and how to talk to others about their diagnosis.

If you've been diagnosed with advanced cancer, you can help others by sharing what worked for you here: https://brnw.ch/21x69jR

03/10/2026

Last week, we published findings of our Real Cost of Cancer research which highlighted for many, their cancer diagnosis is not only a health shock, but a sudden economic and financial shock too.

Behind the data are real people with real experiences.

Ahead of Budget 2027, taking place next Tuesday, 6 October, we're calling for a package of practical measures to help alleviate the financial toll of a cancer diagnosis.

Our asks include:

• Cancer patients are automatically entitled to a medical card for the duration of their illness;

• The drug repayment scheme threshold is reduced to €40;

• Hospital car parking charges are abolished; and

• Anyone with advanced cancer, or who is nearing end of life is automatically entitled to the Fuel Allowance and the Household Benefits Package

You can read more on our research here: https://brnw.ch/21x68tA

02/10/2026

Today's Irish Independent covers the Government's proposed ban on commercial sunbeds.

The Irish Cancer Society was asked to provide comment on concerns being raised regarding the proposed ban's compliance with EU law.

Here's our statement in full:

"The link between sunbeds and skin cancer is clear and irrefutable. The WHO now categorises sunbeds as a Group 1 carcinogen meaning their cancer risk is in the same category as to***co and asbestos exposure. The WHO warns that UV rays emitted from sunbeds are as strong as midday tropical sun. The European Union’s own Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) opinion from 2016 is clear that there is no safe limit for exposure to UV radiation from sunbeds.

While the EU Low Voltage Directive is current EU law, it has simply been outpaced by evolving medical evidence.

A ‘safe’ maximum irradiance level of (0.3 W/m2) for UV emitting devices is set out in EU harmonisation law, but this is based on a determination by the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) dating back to 2006. Back then, UV rays were categorised a ‘probable carcinogen’ by the WHO. The scientific evidence has drastically evolved since then.

We understand that the commercial sun bed ban currently being considered by Government will include measures to address the concerns being raised by the European Commission and other EU Member States.

We look forward to the introduction of a commercial sunbed ban in Ireland, and eventually, we would like to see the outright ban of these products when EU law permits."

You can read the article here: https://brnw.ch/21x67he

02/10/2026

📕Our booklet for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients has been updated:https://www.cancer.ie/sites/default/files/2026-10/CLL%202026%20FOR%20WEB.pdf

Patients can order a free printed copy on our Support Line:
Freephone 1800 200 700 or [email protected]
HCPs can bulk order for free on our order form:
https://www.cancer.ie/cancer-information-booklets/order-cancer-resources -back

👩‍⚕️Our thanks to all the healthcare professionals who volunteered their time and expertise to review this publication:
- Dr Niamh Appleby, Consultant Haematologist
- Fidelma Hackett, Haematology Advanced Nurse Practitioner
- Melissa Martin, Haematology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- The National Cancer Control Programme's Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Clinical Advisory Group
- Aoife McCormack, Daffodil Cancer Nurse

01/10/2026

Síle Nic Suibhne, 62, grew up in Donegal and now lives in Sligo. Following surgery and radiotherapy treatment in 2015, Síle survived breast cancer.

It was because of her sister Kathleen’s diagnosis that Síle had a mammogram. “I had absolutely no symptoms whatsoever and wasn’t one bit daunted to get it done,” Síle said. “I was at the peak of my health when I was diagnosed in 2015. I was running, I was active, I was into fitness. A few weeks later I received a call back. They told me I had lobular breast cancer.”

Doctors told Síle that she was fortunate as usually that type of cancer is hard to pick up. She was told about it in March, in April had her surgery and, following that, had radiotherapy.

“It was a whirlwind,” Síle said. “You’re on the wheel and you can’t come off.”

“I finished my radiotherapy and two weeks later, did the Camino. I was determined to do that.”

The tragedy that Síle has experienced within her family has given her a good perspective on life and living it. Síle is a member of Sligo dragon boat racing club, Medb’s Dragon Warriors.

“I live my life for me. I travel whenever I can. My family jokes that I must have shares in the airline now. I love to do things that are positive for me and give me a good feeling. I don’t look back. Éist le do chorp agus lorg cuidiú má tá sé uait.

Read Síle's full story at the link in our bio.