Navan woman urges others to get checked after cancer diagnosis at 36

A NAVAN woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 36 years of age is urging people to trust their instincts and seek medical advice if something doesn't feel right, as she shares her story as a patient ambassador for this year's Breast Cancer Ireland Very Pink Run.

Three years after her diagnosis, Dara Madden now 39 says she has a completely different outlook on life and hopes speaking publicly about her experience will encourage greater awareness that breast cancer can affect people of all ages.

Dara, who is originally from Navan and now lives in Carlanstown, was diagnosed shortly after discovering a lump she instinctively knew was different.

“I'd just turned 36,” she recalled.

“When my youngest son was born, I'd found a tiny lump and got it checked. They told me it was a fibroid and that it might grow over time, so when I found another lump initially I thought it was probably that one.

“But subconsciously I knew it wasn't. It had come up so suddenly and had gotten so much bigger.”

Her GP referred her for a triple assessment at the Mater Private Hospital, where she quickly realised something was wrong.

“I knew that day because everybody else had left the waiting room and I was still there. They brought me back for another mammogram and the consultant came in and said, ‘This isn't the lump you think it is.’ She remembered the original lump and said it hadn't changed. She wasn't happy with this one at all.”

Although she had to wait for the official results, Dara said it was obvious what lay ahead.

Treatment began almost immediately with a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, followed by six months of chemotherapy and four weeks of radiotherapy. Because the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, she also underwent a further course of low-dose chemotherapy and remains on hormone and targeted therapies, including Tamoxifen and medication that has placed her into a medically induced menopause.

Throughout it all, her greatest concern was protecting her two young sons.

“My youngest was two and my eldest had just started junior infants. All I wanted was to keep their world as normal as possible,” she said.

“I said to my surgeon, 'Do whatever you have to do. Take the good one off as well. I want to be here to meet my grandchildren.'

“I told my husband that the boys had to have as normal a life as possible. I never explained the word cancer to them. I just told them mummy had special medicine, that she would lose her hair and would be going to the doctor a lot.”

The surgery itself lasted seven hours, with surgeons reconstructing her breasts using tissue from her own body rather than implants.

“It was a long recovery. I got an infection afterwards and was basically in bed for 10 days, but my goals were simple. I wanted to be well enough to go to the pumpkin patch and take the boys trick-or-treating at Halloween.”

Chemotherapy brought its own challenges, although Dara was able to use cold capping treatment, which helped her retain much of her hair.

“It doesn't work for everyone, but it meant I kept a lot of my hair and that made life a little bit easier.”

Last year, on her 10th wedding anniversary, Dara who is make up artist and works in Boots in Navan received the news she had been hoping for.

“My oncologist told me I was in remission, it was the best news I was every given.”

While she continues to attend regular six-monthly check-ups and will remain on medication for several more years, Dara says the experience has fundamentally changed her outlook.

“I don't sweat the small stuff anymore. I've turned into a 'yes' person. If I want to do something, I'll do it because life is too short.

“My world changed within two weeks. My husband's life changed, my children's lives changed and my family's life changed. You just don't know what's around the corner.”

Dara also wants to dispel misconceptions surrounding breast cancer in younger women.

“People always ask if there was anything I could have done differently. My nurse said to me, 'The only thing you did wrong was be born a woman.'

“I don't carry the BRCA gene. It wasn't lifestyle-related. Cancer doesn't care if you eat healthy, don't drink or exercise every day. It can happen to anyone.”

As one of this year's patient ambassadors for Breast Cancer Ireland's Very Pink Run, Dara hopes her story will encourage people to become more breast aware and seek help if they notice any changes.

“I wanted to get involved because if my story helps even one person go and get checked, then it's worth it.

“It can happen at any age, and the earlier it's found, the better.”

Dara has also become involved in establishing the Meath Cancer Support Group, believing nobody should face a cancer diagnosis alone.

“I just want to help people. If I can support someone who's going through what I went through, then that's something positive to come out of it.”

For further information visit https://www.verypinkrun.ie/