On 25 February 2011, the same day as the general election, RTÉ's Keelin Shanley was diagnosed with breast cancer. Three years on, however, it’s not something she dwells on.
“I was talking to the radiologist about schools and I remember she interrupted me and said, ‘You know Keelin, I would have to say I’m quite concerned about this’ and I knew immediately then. But it was really eye-opening to see how far they have come with treatment. I have a four in five chance of normal life expectancy now, so that’s pretty good."
Read her story here.
Meath milliner Gillian Hughes, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, designed a range of turbans for women who lost their hair due to treatment.
"You can say: ‘I’ve a positive attitude, it’s this, that and the other,’ but it’s crap, it’s really crap. Cancer is cancer. But it’s not what you do when you’re falling down on the ground, it’s how you get back up.”
Read her story here.
Business owner Lorraine Fanneran was 38 when she underwent a mastectomy. She explains why it doesn't change who she is.
"Nothing has changed about me. That was my biggest fear, that the mastectomy would change me.
Okay, I have different stuffing in there. But, at the end of the day, it doesn’t affect who I am as a person."
Read her story here.
When Phil Flood was diagnosed with breast cancer, the last place she thought it would lead was the Aviva Stadium. She is part of Something To Sing About (STSA), which was established in September 2012 as a choir for people in recovery from cancer, with centres nationwide.
“I couldn’t explain the happy atmosphere,” she says of the rehearsals. “Monday evenings are sacrosanct. It is a joy to go in. It is a joy to sing. It’s not a support group, but people have spoken about what it meant to them."
Read her story here.
Find out how you can be breast aware on www.cancer.ie.
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