'I remember the disbelief thinking ‘but 17-year-olds don’t get cancer?’

ANN CASEY

A DROGHEDA woman who was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is urging the people of Meath to support cancer patients by getting involved with the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day on Friday March 24.

In 2014, 17 year-old Sarah O’Neill began experiencing severe pain in her chest. One night Sarah began having difficulty breathing and was brought to A&E. Two weeks later after numerous tests, scans and x-rays, Sarah was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Her treatment plan began straight away, with chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

“I remember being in total disbelief and thinking ‘but 17-year-olds don’t get cancer?’ I was about to start my Leaving Cert! The diagnosis was a Sunday and by Wednesday I had begun my chemotherapy. I was so used to the way I had been feeling, I don’t think I fully realised how sick I was. I remember going down to the Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Centre to the hospital, I would go in and read the booklets and chat away with the Daffodil nurses. I found that really helpful.

“I am delighted to be supporting the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day this year, the services and supports they provide are invaluable for so many people affected by cancer in Ireland.”

On top of funding life-changing cancer research, the Irish Cancer Society provides vital services and supports to patients and their families across Meath each year, including 401 free counselling sessions, 197 nights of in-home Night Nursing for cancer patients in their final days, and 919 of free lifts to get patients safely to and from their hospital chemotherapy appointments in 2022.

The Irish Cancer Society is calling on the public to take part in any way they can to show solidarity and support for anyone affected by cancer, and says that this year’s Daffodil Day is their most important yet.

Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power said: “Every three minutes, someone in Ireland, hears the words ‘you have cancer’. Cancer takes from us every day. It takes big days, little days, and everything in-between. It replaces them with treatment days and recovery days. But together, we have the power to take these days back from cancer. The Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day is a day to give hope and raise vital funds so that one day, cancer can take no more.

“Daffodil Day is our most important fundraising event of the year with donations funding crucial supports including our Support Line, free counselling, our Night Nurses service, and financial support for families of children affected by cancer. The public’s generosity on Daffodil Day allows us to support life-changing cancer research.

“At the Irish Cancer Society we want to support every single person in Ireland affected by cancer. But we cannot do this without your help. We typically receive three per cent of our funding from the State. It’s only because of the generous support of the Irish public we are able to provide our free services and fund life-changing cancer research projects. We ask everyone to please get out there and help us turn Ireland daffodil yellow once again on March 24.”

Donate at www.Cancer.ie/Donate or over the phone on 0818 10 20 30. For more information about Daffodil Day visit www.Cancer.ie/DaffodilDay.