Our peer to peer support panel is made up of … Read their stories below.
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Leah Harrington
Age group: 46-55
Type of Cancer: Stage 2 Breast Cancer, living with secondary lymphedema
Hey, I am Leah. For me it is not a journey, it is ‘my road trip’. Having a cancer diagnosis aged only 38, treatments, surgeries, side effects and all that goes with it, it wasn’t A to B, but I had bumps and pit stops along the way. I had surgeries, mastectomy, six months chemotherapy, 6 weeks radium and was on Tamoxifen for 10 years. I also developed secondary lymphoedema as a result of the treatment, which I manage perfectly.
I see myself a good listener, non-judgmental, open with a healthy sense of dark humour: if you know, you know!! I have many health conditions and live with the after-effects of cancer. I could not work for 9 years, so made the brave choice of leaving my job after 20 odd years, and I have to say I have not looked back in my new role.
My mantra is “Never be ashamed of a scar. It simply means you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt you.”
Liz Tobin
Age group: 36-45
Type of Cancer: Triple Negative Breast Cancer
My name is Liz, and I live in Cork with my husband and two young daughters. I am employed in the HSE as an Environmental Health Officer and I am based in Cork North Lee.
In 2019, I found a lump in my breast in the shower one morning and followed up with my GP.
You always remember the moment cancer came knocking, and for me that day was on the 26th of April 2019. I was 38 years old, and my little girls were aged 5 and 2 and I sat in that room with my husband, and waited for the surgeon to come in and tell me that life as we knew it had changed, forever. My diagnosis was Stage 2 triple negative breast cancer.
I was lucky as I had found my lump early, and following 6 months of chemo, a lumpectomy surgery and a month of radiotherapy I finished treatment and got the all-clear.
Since my diagnosis the people I have received most support and understanding from are those who have been through cancer treatment themselves. I have been attending counselling in Cork Cancer Care Centre, and have done a significant amount of work on myself.
I returned to work in January 2022 and have resumed my post in HSE South. I feel very fortunate to be a cancer survivor and I think I am in quite a privileged position to be able to hopefully provide some support, a listening ear or even just understanding of what someone else is feeling or going through while returning to “life” after treatment.
Margaret McKenna
Age group: 55-66
Type of Cancer: Melanoma & Breast Cancer
Having been diagnosed with melanoma in my thirties, my life was turned upside down again in my forties with a breast cancer diagnosis.
With resilience and determination I’m now in remission for over a decade. I can offer empathy and understanding to the newly diagnosed person whilst guiding them with practical advice, as well as understanding the emotional rollercoaster of the cancer journey.
Marie O’Brien
Age group: 55-66
Type of Cancer: Breast Cancer (DCIS)
I was diagnosed with breast cancer 5 years ago. It was a shock as my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 40. When I was diagnosed myself, I realised how lonely it must have been for her. I know that we both would have benefited greatly from talking to someone who had gone through something similar and would really have found the signposting very helpful. I was out of work for over a year. Luckily, I made a full recovery and bounced back.
Support from my friends and family helped me along the way. It was difficult, but I got there. I have worked with people for over 40 years, listening and supporting people through the most challenging times in their lives. I hope that I can bring this experience, as well as my personal experience of cancer with me, to help others and give them the strength to get through difficult times.
Mylen Cantos
Age group: 46-55
Type of Cancer: Uterine cancer, stage 3
I was diagnosed with uterine cancer on 30 July 2019 while on holiday. The happiness that holiday brought, and being with my loved ones after 4 years washed away, and my world suddenly fell apart.
I heard that I have ‘cancer’, my initial reaction was “I am going to die” and how about my son and my husband. How can they survive without me? Support from colleagues, friends and my family assisted me during treatment and recovery.
I would like to offer the same support to others.
Niamh O’Leary
Age group: 46-55
Type of Cancer: Breast Cancer
I feel privileged to have trained as a peer support volunteer. I have a desire to help and assist fellow HSE colleagues on their cancer journey and share my experiences in helping people at a difficult time.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. My journey began with surgery, radiotherapy, and numerous years of hormonal treatment. My family has a significant history of cancer, and I feel this gave me a greater understanding of cancer in families and communication within families. I am also a trained ‘Thrive and Survive’ trainer. This has given me a better understanding of issues that people deal with during and after treatment. I am also mindful that everyone’s experience is quite different and very personal, and I am eager to raise awareness, provide support and assistance to others facing similar challenges.
