‘I just decided that I had to fight this, that I just had to survive’

When Trim's Sheila Murphy was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2014, she knew exactly what she was dealing with but that didn't make the news any less terrifying.

"I had worked in the oesophageal cancer unit in St James’ Hospital in Dublin and I had never known anyone to survive it," she recalls.

Six years on, Sheila is fully recovered and living her best life, and rowing in behind a major fundraising campaign for the Oesophageal Cancer Fund (OCF).

Sheila, who is this year’s lady captain of Co Meath Golf Club, says that extensive research led to the improvements that saved her life and she wants to see that research continue. That is why she is supporting the the OCF's ‘Give It Up Take It Up’ 20-day challenge.

Sheila, who is married to John and has two grown up children was working as a nurse in Navan Hospital at the time of her diagnosis.

"In the summer of 2013 I had difficulty swallowing intermittently. My food would get stuck and I'd need a drink to help it go down. I also couldn't tolerate very hot or very cold food.

"We went on holiday that September and I knew by the second week that there was something wrong - I was drinking large volumes of water to swallow my food."

As soon as she got home she went to her GP who referred her for a gastroscopy. Ten days later she had the test and was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer that day.

"I was shocked, frightened, stunned. It was hard to get my head around.

She was treated for her cancer in St James Hospital, which is Ireland's centre of excellence for oesophageal cancer.

Sheila had worked there in the past and knew that this type of cancer had a grim diagnosis.

"I had worked in that unit, and had never seen anyone survive. I had always said to my husband that the two cancers you don't want to get are of the pancreas and oesophagus.

"I just decided that I had to fight it, that I had to survive.

"Thanks to the wonderful treatment I received and the great research that has taken place and is continuing, I am here today and life is good."

Sheila had chemotherapy and radiotherapy, followed by surgery to remove her oesophagus, which took place in February 2014.

"I had several different types of scans before I started chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. "Everything is tailor made to the size of your body.

Professor John Reynolds was her lead consultant and she had the chemo and radiotherapy in St Lukes Hospital.

"I got great support. I never had to worry about getting to hospital. My friends drew up a rota and everyday somebody drove me up.

"I was caring for my mother who had vascular dementia at the time and my sister Catherine took leave of absence from work, which was a great help."

In January 2014, Sheila had another pet scan which showed the cancer had shrunk and there was no sign of it on the scan.

"I knew then, I had a very good chance," she recalls.

She had surgery in February 2014. Her oesophagus was removed and her stomach was pulled up to just below her throat.

The road to recovery has not been easy, not least of which is having to learn to eat again. She was tube fed for the first three months and it took about a year to get back her strength.

"We went on holidays the October after the surgery and I spent most days in bed."

She gained strength however and now seven years after her diagnosis, she is living well again.

An avid golfer she is the new Lady Captain in Trim Golf Club which is a testament to her determination and positive outlook on living well beyond cancer. She walks about 4 to 5km a day.

Sheila wants to highlight the relatively innocuous early symptoms of this aggressive cancer, such as persistent heartburn, acid indigestion and belching, as well as difficulty swallowing and she stresses that early diagnosis is key.

"Anyone experiencing any symptoms, the doctors are open, the hospitals are open, do something now it could save a lot of arduous treatment and surgery," she said.

Sheila is supporting OCFs latest fundraiser.

Over the past two decades survival rates for oesophageal cancer have shown a 50 per cent improvement in Ireland, positioning us fourth internationally in terms of survivorship. The vital fundraising work carried out by the OCF has facilitated pioneering research in this area and the development of personalised treatments for cancer patients.

The fund raising challenge is to do something as simple as giving up a cup of coffee a day or, for the more active among us, perhaps taking up a 20 minute walk or cycle a day. By donating €20 or €1/day throughout the challenge participants will help to raise a much-needed €20k to fund essential cancer research, giving hope to thousands of patients nationwide.

To find out more about the OCF, donate or get involved in the 'Take it up or Give it up' initiative visit www.ocf.ie and follow @oesophagealcancerfund #GiveitupTakeitup