'It can't always be someone else': Former Garda chief says oesophageal cancer was his biggest battle

Louise Walsh

"Take one day at a time. It can't always be someone else. The sun won't always shine. I certainly am grateful," said a former Garda chief who is sharing his oesophageal cancer journey in the hope of saving others.

Former Chief Superintendent of the Roscommon/Longford Garda Division, Paul Hargadon, admits that his battle with cancer was one of the biggest challenges in his life.

Weight loss, reflux, difficulty swallowing, and fatigue are all symptoms which he experienced while on holiday in Portugal in the autumn of 2024, and which prompted him to go to his GP immediately on his return home.

"I had put the reflux down to my hiatus hernia which I had been diagnosed with 25 years previously but the real red flag was when I unintentionally lost half a stone," said the native of Co Sligo who now lives in Blackrock, Co Louth with his wife Carmel.

Paul added that a family history of cancer also made him realise that early intervention for any possible illness was hugely important.

"When my consultant asked me to see me early one morning with test results, I knew something was wrong. They had found a tumour on my oesophagus.

"Maybe it was ignorance but I seemed to take the diagnosis in my stride and left it in the hands of the medical people. It was music to my ears when they said it was operable and treatable.

"I thought I got through chemotherapy pretty well but, of course, it does affect you psychologically. And my family would testify to that. I had periods where I was very tired for days after bouts of chemo."

Paul had an operation in April 2025 and spent seven week in hospital, two of which were in the Intensive Care Unit due to complications resulting in double pneumonia.

"I was drugged up so much which was probably harder for my wife Carmel and my family to watch, especially when they were told the next three days were critical after I developed the double pneumonia.

"I have no scars whatsoever, only six little puncture holes from the robotic surgery. They removed my oesophagus and pulled up the stomach so probably, my stomach is now my oesophagus. The biggest irritation was having the gastric tube in my nose for seven weeks.

"But thankfully time moved on and I moved on from jelly ice-cream to solids and getting the tube out."

A second dose of maintenance chemotherapy was needed which floored Paul, leaving him lethargic and unable to walk due to a dropped foot.

"Despite my career, this was undoubtedly the biggest challenge of my life but I'm not complaining. You pick yourself up and move on.

"I just want to share my story to create awareness and tell people how important it is to get an early diagnosis. Any recovery depends on that.

"And try to have a positive mental attitude. Speak about it to anyone who will listen. There is loads of help and support available and the staff at Oesophagus Cancer Ireland have been phenomenal."

Ireland has one of the highest rates of oesophageal cancer in Europe with up to 520 people, mostly men, diagnosed each year according to the Oesophageal Cancer Fund.

Lollipop Weekend is February 27th and 28th in aid of esophageal cancer.