Two Cork women open up about their breast cancer diagnosis and treatment 

HAVING gone through a tough breast cancer diagnosis, gruelling treatment, and a double mastectomy, 46-year-old Karen Kemp, living in Kinsale, looks on the bright side of life.

“I had a bra holiday!” says Karen, who is the mother of three daughters who are all in secondary school.

“And hopefully I’ll have new boobs by Christmas, Santa might be nice to me!”

Karen’s mum died at 53 from breast cancer and Karen was very grateful to be able to access breast screening in Cork.

“I attended the Daffodil Centre at the Bon Secours Hospital every year for breast screening because of my history, I used to get an ache in my breasts every now and again, but I didn’t take too much notice of that. I was due to go for breast screening in April, 2020, but due to Covid my appointment was postponed,” says Karen, originally from South Africa.

Her husband, Jordaan, is observant.

“I remember it was around September when I was getting dressed, and Jordaan mentioned to me that my breasts didn’t look the same anymore. I hadn’t noticed and I hadn’t found any lump.

“Yes, I had aches in my breasts for years, but that was usual for me, and I ignored that. I thought my right breast looked the same as my left breast and when I felt around them, I felt nothing.”

But Jordaan was on her case.

“I went to my GP,” says Karen. “She did an examination and couldn’t detect anything. I was soon back to my regular breast check screening in the Daffodil Centre.

I remember chatting while I was having a mammogram and the lady told me to be quiet, to stop talking. I thought; ‘oh sh-t’.

“I’ve been having scans every year. But it turned out my cancer was a very fast-growing cancer.”

Karen was shown into the doctor’s room.

“He asked me was my husband here?” says Karen. “I told him no. Then things went into overdrive, The Daffodil Centre is a well-oiled machine.

“I had more scans, every scan known to man, a biopsy, an MRI, and blood tests. I was called back a week later when I was told there was a 15cm tumour present and that it was more than likely cancer. I might be looking at a double mastectomy.”

It was stage 3 cancer.

“And it had gone into the lymph nodes,” says Karen.

Did she get a huge shock?

“I still thought there was nothing wrong,” she says. “I was joking with my husband. There is nothing going on. I’m as fit as a fiddle.”

She had to go through the motions that go with a breast cancer diagnosis.

“It was weird in the middle of Covid going into CUH for a mastectomy,” says Karen.

“A lumpectomy on the left breast was suggested but there were little bits of cancer there. The bits could be removed or else a double mastectomy was an option. That would get rid of the cancer and get rid of the chance of it coming back. So, I decided on having a double mastectomy.”

How did that feel?

“I had a bra holiday!” says Karen. “I felt so flat. I was lop-sided until both breasts were removed.”

She was under no illusions.

“My mum and my aunt both had breast cancer,” says Karen.

“I was taking no chances. The plastic surgeon in CUH was going to carry out a DIEP breast reconstruction.”

This is a type of reconstruction that uses a woman’s own tissue to create a new breast after a mastectomy.

“It seemed a more natural way of doing the surgery,” says Karen.

Another well-oiled machine was operating in the background.

“We have a great circle of friends and they all rallied around, cooking lovely meals for us and dropping goodies at the door,” says Karen.

“The girls thought that was fantastic and it was nice for them to see the amount of support there was for us.”

Going through cancer treatments often seems like being in war mode when there is a constant fight going on. When the fight is done, what then?

“I sought out ARC House who helped guide me through the lovely programmes they provide,” says Karen.

I did the Survive and Thrive online programme, now I meet others there every few months and I’ve availed of counselling at Arc House.

Karen was also introduced to Ladies who Launch, based in her neck of the woods.

“Ladies who Launch is a sports initiative that aims to build confidence for people of all ages,” she says.

“We meet once a week for a paddle and I’ve made lovely friends there. A group of us did The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon in September which was great.”

Karen is philosophical about having breast cancer.

“Yes, you’re sick, but you’re alive and living,” she says.

“You have cancer but you’re not sick forever. You keep telling yourself that. It’s true. You could fall into a little heap and feel sorry for yourself.”

Life is good now for the Kemps.

“Life goes on,” says Karen. “I’m back at work and life is good. Reaching out to ARC House provided incredible support. They are so caring.”

Reflecting on her diagnosis, she says: “It is nobody’s fault. People get breast cancer because they have breasts.”

Karen has good advice to offer.

“Pay attention to your body,” she says..

“New treatments are becoming available all the time.”

And Karen is looking forward to her new boobs.

“Yes, I think Santa will be nice to me!”

MARY’S STORY

Mary Harrington, from Tower Street, who has three grown-up children and seven grandchildren, is GAA-mad.

After her breast cancer journey, which began on November 29, 2021, Mary has all the time in the world to indulge in her two passions in life, which are her family and supporting her local GAA teams.

“We’re off to the county final later,” says Mary when I call her. “We are a big GAA family.”

Mary, 70 in February, was stopped in her tracks when she was applying body lotion after taking a shower and she found a lump in her breast. She acted straight away.

“My GP got me an appointment in the Orchid Centre in CUH,” says Mary.

The doctors and nurses there are amazing, and I had numerous tests and biopsies. I was told to come back on December 23.

What was Mary told then?

“I was told that I had two lumps in my breast and that I had to have six months of chemotherapy treatment.”

Mary is resilient.

“I got through it every three weeks,” she says.

“The treatment finished in June, and I had surgery in July when the two lumps were removed.

“I only had found one lump, but when they went in another lump was found. They were separate lumps with their own characteristics. Afterwards I had radiotherapy treatment for a month.”

Mary came out the other side with a little help from her friends.

“The Infusion Unit in the South Infirmary was amazing,” she says.

“The level of care and concern given to everyone there is wonderful.”

Mary found another lifeline after the trauma of having cancer and cancer treatment.

“I found Cork Cancer Care Centre to be a lifeline for me,” she says.

“Caroline, one of my ‘chemo buddies’, introduced me to the centre. We both started chemotherapy treatment together. I’m going to the Cork Cancer Care Centre ever since where I receive great support and where I have made great friends. I find it brilliant,” says Mary.

We laugh and we cry. Everybody is the same, they are all in the same boat at different stages of their cancer.

“We can all talk to each other because we all know what each other is going through.

“People of all ages go to the centre, and I find everyone amazing in there.”

The centre’s CEO Linda Goggin James is amazing.

“Linda is an angel with no wings,” says Mary.

“Nothing or no-one is too much trouble.”

Mary chilled out at the Cork Cancer Care Centre.

“I enjoyed Reiki and massage, all free of charge,” she says.

The lady is game ball now, living her life to the full.

“Life is great, thank God,” says Mary.

She counts her blessings.

“I count myself very lucky,” says Mary.

I am one of the lucky ones. My family and friends were always great support. My husband, Denis, is amazing. He came everywhere with me.

“Our three girls were unbelievable. My friends were there for me whenever I wanted them.”

Mary knows good days are ahead.

“Every day is a new day,” she says. “I take it as it comes, and I live for today. And I take nothing for granted.”

But her GAA team will bring home the spoils surely?

“You never know,” says Mary, laughing.

“Here’s hoping.”

SUPPORT

Daffodil Centre, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork. Phone:021-4234536/087-6217587 Email:daffodilcentrecuh@irishcancer.ie

Cork ARC support House. Sarsfield Rd, Wilton, Cork, is a safe haven for people with cancer and their families that offers a range of free supports. Phone: 021-4276688 Cork Arc https//corkcancersupport.ie

Orchid Centre, breast cancer care clinic located in the orchid centre on CUH Campus. Phone:021-492000.

Cork Cancer Care Centre 26, St. Paul’s Avenue, Cork. Phone: 021-4949090

https//www.corkcancercarecentre.ie