Bohermeen Breast cancer survivor praises life saving mammogram service

A THANKFUL breast cancer survivor from Bohermeen who says a mammogram saved her life has told of the importance of early detection.

Trish Mulvaney received the shock diagnosis in 2021 after a routine mammogram revealed that she had breast cancer.

Luckily. Trish was diagnosed in the early stages of the disease and made a good recovery following surgery and a treatment. Now the Bohermeen woman is urging women to keep their mammogram appointments as it could save their life.

“I was diagnosed in September 2021 and it was picked up through a mammogram, it actually would have been my very last mammogram at that age, 69,” said Trish. I had been having them done since I was 50 and there was never a call back,” she added.

“My mum had breast cancer so I would have had mammograms before I went into the system as a precautionary measure.

“Then I got a call one day saying that I had been booked in for another mammogram. So I went and had my consultation with the BreastCheck Clinic and Professor Stokes told me that it was very early stages, it was confined in the milk duct and as far as he could tell it hadn't spread but he wanted to take that out so I had to undergo surgery.

“He got it all and it didn't spread to any lymph nodes and then I had six weeks recovery and had radium treatment every day for a month.

“I feel very lucky that it was caught in the very early stages.”

Trish wants to highlight the importance of attending mammogram appointments as her cancer may not have been found so early without one.

“Please if you get an appointment, go, it's a wonderful service. It's free and it's located in Our Lady's Hospital in Navan. They are so good and so kind when you go for your mammogram. They reassure you and make you feel comfortable.”

Feeling grateful to have beaten the disease and to be in good health, Trish along with her daughters, Ruth Flanagan and Sharon London have organised a pre-loved ladies fashion show and pop-up shop in aid of the Irish Cancer Society in The Headfort Hotel in Kells this Sunday, April 28th.

“It was kind of a light bulb moment,” said Trish.

“You hear people saying all the time I have so many clothes, some are a bit too good to put in a charity shop, I don't know what to do with them,” said the breast cancer survivor.

“I thought initially we might do a pop-up shop, then one day I thought let's just do a fashion show of pre-loved, good as new clothes, open it up to see if people want to put rails in and do it for the Irish Cancer Society,” she added.

“We decided to hold it in the Headfort for a bit of luxury and they have been so good, they are going to set up the stage and runway and organise the chairs for us and make it glamorous and all we have to do is turn up and sort out the models and the clothes.

“It's €50 to put a rail in which will go to the Irish Cancer Society but whatever someone makes on the rail belongs to them.

“Entry is €10 at the door which will be donated to The Irish Cancer Society.”

Trish and her daughters also want to show that second hand is not second best!

“Another element of the event is recognising that in today’s society we are seeing more how ‘fast fashion’ is impacting the environment.

“With more events like this we can continue to normalise buying second hand and showcase that great quality, style and fashion can be found pre loved.

“We will be modelling clothes in the fashion show that are all like new or excellent condition. All items fashioned in the show will also be sale on the day along with an array of ladies fashion finds and accessories on individual stalls and booths.”