A LIMERICK woman and breast cancer survivor has called on the women of Limerick to get checked and help others like her by supporting the Irish Cancer Society’s Big Pink Breakfast.
Donna Ray discovered she had breast cancer in May last year. She was referred to a breast clinic by her GP after she found an indentation and hardness on her left breast.
The mother of one from Moyross said she was “half expecting to be diagnosed with cancer. The dent in my breast wasn’t a good sign, and when I felt my breast, I knew it felt different”.
“When I was diagnosed, I finally knew and had confirmation of what was there.”
Donna underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, and was delighted when she finished her treatment last February to be told she was cancer free.
Now, she is urging others to stay vigilant and get checked, as each year 3,600 woman and around 30 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland.
“Breast cancer doesn’t only show in a lump. I didn’t have a lump; I just noticed a dent in my breast and a hardness. This is why it’s so important to be aware of your body and to check your breasts,” Donna said.
Now, Donna is sharing her story to encourage others to stay on top of their health and support the Irish Cancer Society’s breast cancer awareness campaign by organising a Big Pink Breakfast to help raise vital funds for cancer support services and life-saving research projects.
Breakfast events can be organised at home, at work, in colleges, or in local communities.
Funding raised from the 2024 Big Pink Breakfast campaign helped support more than 5,150 lifts to treatment for breast cancer patients through the Irish Cancer Society’s free, volunteer transport service; 380 nights of vital end of life care for breast cancer patients; one-to-one support at the Society’s support line and Daffodil Centres, and 5,330 free counselling sessions for patients.
While nine out of 10 breast changes won’t turn out to be breast cancer, signs include a lump or thickening in the breast or armpit, a change in size or shape of one breast, a change in the skin around the breast, red or tender abscesses, a change in the nipple or unusual discharge, and swelling.
For more information or to register to host a Big Pink Breakfast, visit cancer.ie/pink. Support is also available on Irish Cancer Society’s support line on 1800 200 700.
