Denise bound for US as ‘Pink Ambassador’

A brave young breast cancer survivor from Kiltale is preparing to travel to Chicago to take part in the Great Pink Run alongside Olympian Sonia O’Sullivan to raise money for Breast Cancer Ireland, a charity supporting pioneering research and awareness on the importance of breast health amongst women of all ages.

Denise Ashe was just 36 when she was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer two years ago, an aggressive form of breast cancer which is most commonly found in younger women. After a gruelling year of treatment, the mum of one was given the all-clear and has since become an ambassador for Breast Cancer Ireland.

Recent statistics show that one in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and 3,100 new cases are reported annually with 30 per cent of women diagnosed in the age range of 20-50 years, a fact Denise is keen to highlight as part of her role.

“Having had a painful lump in my breast I sought advice from my GP and she put me on a course of antibiotics because I had an abscess the other side a few years before and it was remedied by antibiotics so I thought it was something similar again on the left side. I rang the GP three weeks later to say that I was a little bit concerned because the pain had subsided but the lump had remained so I went in for another check-up.

 

Denise with her daughter Hollie (13), at the launch of the 9th Great Pink Run with Glanbia and Avonmore which will take place in the Phoenix Park, Dublin on Saturday, 19th October, Kilkenny Castle Park, Kilkenny on 20th October and also in at Diversey Harbor, Chicago on 5th October. Photograph: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

“I could see by her face that she was concerned. She felt that the lump in the breast had gotten a bit bigger and being a breast cancer survivor herself she sent me to St Vincent’s immediately for tests. I undertook mammograms, ultrasounds and a biopsy, the first biopsy was inconclusive unfortunately but at that stage, they did tell me there was a sign of a cancer showing. The seed was planted in my head at that stage that there was something alarming going on.

Denise says the support and dedication of her treatment team gave her the confidence to fight the deadly disease,

“I was in the healthiest fittest state of my life at the time. I had completed my first marathon four or five months earlier. I’m a vegetarian, I rarely drink, I don’t smoke. I broke down when I got the diagnosis and I had my cry but I suppose straight off the reassurance from my oncologist is what got me through it,” Denise says.

“My oncologist basically said I’ll fix this for you, it’s not going to be an easy year but I’m going to see you right so I put my faith in her hands. I had 20 weeks of chemotherapy followed by a lumpectomy in and 20 sessions of radiotherapy which I completed in February 2018.”

When asked how she remained so strong throughout an incredibly difficult time, the Breast Cancer Ireland ambassador says she just kept thinking of her now 13-year-old daughter Hollie,

“My daughter was my driving force. I had to get well for Hollie and for my family around me. It was my only option. It’s only afterwards that you realise that it’s not only you that it hits, but it was also my husband, my parents, my wider circle of friends that are affected.

 

Inspiring Denise remained positive and hopeful during treatment

“The most important thing for me was to continue my day to day life as best as I could and to remain hopeful that at the end of it I would be cancer-free and thankfully I was. I told myself that it was only going to be a year, a bump in the road and that I would get through it. I had a three and a half centimetre tumour and the chemo shrunk it down to the size of a pinhead so it was very responsive to treatment.

“I had my second year meeting with my oncology team last month and last week I got a call to say that everything is fine. Really until I hit the five-year mark I am high risk so they are going to be keeping a close eye on me.

The brave cancer survivor explains why becoming an ambassador for Breast Cancer Ireland was so important.

“I’m part of a ladies running group called Kiltale Ladies on the Run, running is a big part of my life. When I saw the Great Pink Run advertised I thought why not take part, do something that I enjoy and maybe raise a few quid along the way. I set up a GoFundme page with the aim of raising a €1000 and within a week or so we hit €10,000 by the time I ran the Great Pink Run I had raised €21,000 which was incredible.

“The support of the local community bowled me over. Breast Cancer Ireland got in touch with me and asked me if I would share my story.”

This year the Great Pink Run is heading to Chicago. There is a 5km and a 10km run set for Diversey Harbor on 5th October, women, men and children running together to highlight the cause while raising funds.

The Breast Cancer Ireland Ambassador at the finish line of the Great Pink Run in 2018

“I’m really excited to go to Chicago. It will be a busy month, I’ll be back in time for Great Pink Run in Dublin and then I’m running Dublin City Marathon at the end of October.

“It’s so important for me to be involved in raising awareness especially as a younger woman to break the stigma that breast cancer is an older woman’s disease. I also want to let people know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is a treatable disease.

“If people before me hadn’t fundraised for breast cancer research I wouldn’t have got the treatment that I got so hopefully I can continue to help people down the line by doing the same.

“Having cancer has completely changed my outlook on life. I feel I have a lot more confidence in myself and a real determination to do the things I want to do. It’s cliche but I definitely don’t sweat the small stuff anymore. It’s about the bigger picture, living a full and healthy life.

“I was always a people pleaser, even if it meant putting myself under pressure. I now have a stronger voice and I don’t feel guilty saying ‘no’ at times. I always say the one benefit of having cancer is that I’m a stronger, more appreciative better version of myself.”

The Great Pink Run 2019 takes place in Ireland on Saturday, 19th October, in Dublin’s Phoenix Park and Sunday 20th October in Kilkenny Castle Park which will raise funds to support Breast Cancer Ireland’s pioneering research and awareness programmes.

To register to go to www.greatpinkrun.ie or for more information visit www.breastcancerireland.com