More than a lump: Recent Episodes
Breast Cancer Ireland
A diagnosis of breast cancer can cause a lifechanging ripple effect of impact, affecting those we love the most. In this podcast, Aisling Hurley CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland talks to a selection of guests about their very personal connections to breast cancer – be it through their career choice, their own first-hand experience of the disease, or through sharing the experience of close family members. Utterly unique stories on how breast cancer has informed their perspective on life, love, family, health, their goals, and aspirations, proving beyond doubt that breast cancer is more than a lump.
Consistent and intensive breast cancer research is vital in changing the landscape of the disease. The Breast Cancer Ireland Dublin Cancer Conference took place in RCSI from 19th – 21st October 2022, where the world’s leading breast cancer researchers gathered for a ground-breaking, three-day conference that Breast Cancer Ireland were proud to sponsor. In this penultimate episode of Season 2, Aisling speaks with the co-chair of the conference, Scientific Director Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre, Professor Leonie Young. Both women and their teams have worked together for many years and their shared passion for research into breast cancer makes for an inspiring and uplifting discourse on advancements to date, progress coming down the line and offers hope for the future. This episode is well worth listening to.
Ann Eble was 48 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time in 2003. Ann is joined by Carol Mallon who was diagnosed in 2004 and Marion Egan who is living with a metastatic diagnosis. Each of the women have dealt with their diagnosis differently. They talk through their experiences, sharing the various side-effects they have experienced, the challenges associated with their treatment and the ways they have founds to live their very best lives, with their families and their friends.
Rhonda Richardson’s grandmother and her three aunts all had breast cancer and so she had been attending a breast screening clinic since the age of 33 but sadly at the age of 45 Rhonda herself was diagnosed with breast cancer. In this episode of More Than A Lump podcast, Aisling speaks with Rhonda about her diagnosis and treatment and the decisions she her sisters took, following their positive screening for the BRCA2 gene. Aisling is joined by Dr Reem Salman, Consultant Breast Surgeon and a member of the Family Risk Assessment Clinic team at the recently opened Breast Centre on the Beaumont Hospital Campus, Dublin to talk about the very important subject of breast cancer genetics and family history.
Over the past fifteen episodes of More Than A Lump we have covered a range of topics, sharing personal stories and covering many of the various challenges that a breast cancer diagnosis can present for women. In this episode, called Beauty Beyond Breast Cancer, Aisling takes a different approach. Through her conversation with Jennifer Rock, AKA The Skin Nerd, Yinka Martin founder of Hairweavon and Valerie Murphy of Valerie’s Breast Care, three women who provide products, services and expertise to those diagnosed in the area of skin, hair, and bra fitting, we hear how the beauty industry and importantly how feeling beautiful, and like one’s self, during and beyond treatment, is so vital. Aisling chats to Jennifer, Yinka and Valerie about their own interactions with those diagnosed over many years, as well as advancements in the products and services they provide. We hope you find this episode helpful.
Sorcha Lavelle was just 22 years of age when, following a routine visit to her GP, she was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. She admits she wasn’t breast aware and thought the small lump on her left breast – which was about the size of a pea – was almost not worthy of a mention. Fortunately for Sorcha, she did mention the lump and her diagnosis, while shocking, was quick and her outcome more positive than if she has not brought it to her doctor’s attention when she did. In this episode, Sorcha talks to Aisling about what it means to her, to her family and her friends to receive a diagnosis of breast cancer so young and why she believes that the misconception that breast cancer is a disease of older women needs to be spoken about. Sorcha is passionate about telling younger women, in particular, to look out for the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and to know their normal.
Madeleine McCoole first discovered a lump on her right breast in the shower. She didn’t think much of it but when, a few weeks later, she ended up in her GP’s surgery with her son, for another reason, she decided to mention it. Three weeks later, she was diagnosed with a grade three tumour. Like many impacted by a breast cancer diagnosis, the mother of two from Carrigaline, Co Cork, has been inspired to share her story in the hope of raising awareness and helping to ensure others, like her, detect their cancer early. Madeline is joined by Amanda LeQuesne, a counsellor with Purple House, a community-based cancer support centre in Bray, Co Wicklow. Everyone’s breast cancer journey is different but this episode explores some practices and techniques that might help those diagnosed to deal with the initial shock and it offers advice to help work through some of the psychological challenges along the way.
At the age of 36, Denise Ashe was diagnosed with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Although an enormous shock, from the start Denise was determined that cancer was not going to hold her back from living her best life. Registration for this year’s Great Pink Run is now open and in this episode Denise chats to Aisling about how exercise and running have played a big role in her recovery. Denise is joined by nutritionist Orla Walsh. Orla kindly provided BCI with a set of nutritional tips to help prepare for the event and in this episode she discusses these and other dietary questions and concerns those diagnosed may have. The Great Pink Run takes place in Dublin's Leopardstown racecourse and surrounding areas on October 9th, with a second event taking place in Kilkenny a week later on October 16th. If you can't make the events in Dublin or Kilkenny, you can take part in a virtual sense between the 9th and 16th. To register go to greatpinkrun.ie
A breast cancer diagnosis effects everyone in the family not just the person diagnosed. In this episode, BCI CEO Aisling Hurley chats with two husbands, Steve Kelly and Jamie Crawford. Steve is married to Tanya and Jamie to Georgie. Both men have travelled with their wives along their breast cancer journeys and their paths to recovery. One in nine women will develop breast cancer in the course of their lifetime yet there is very little information available for partners. This episode of More Than A Lump attempts to spotlight on a partner’s perspective and aims to reveal valuable insights and perspectives which might help loved ones navigate their way through the range of experiences, emotions and challenges – once again demonstrating that breast cancer is more than a lump.
Consultant Radiologist, Dr Deirdre Duke and Outreach Coordinator and breast cancer survivor Olivia Carpenter speak to Aisling about the early stages of diagnosis, in terms of the interactions with the triage and assessment teams.
Soon after she completed a ten-kilometre charity run, Olivia’s husband, Gavin, gave her a big hug. As he held her close, he felt a lump in her right breast. He became alarmed and suggested that she get it medically checked. There began a journey for the Mum of three. A journey that brought her into contact with a host of medical professionals and ultimately to us here in Breast Cancer Ireland where she has been an active Ambassador and Outreach Coordinator visiting schools , companies and community groups sharing important messages about understanding good breast health.
Dr Duke shares her own reflections on how she prepares to tell women that they have breast cancer, she shares an update on the fantastic new Beaumont Breast Centre which was recently opened by First Lady, Sabina O’Higgins and she explains exactly what this centre will mean for the over 10,000 women who will be seen there annually.
This episode is proudly supported by Goodbody.
In this final episode of Season 1, Aisling speaks with Teresa Costello, a breast cancer survivor, whose initial symptoms of breast cancer were more than a lump. The orange peel-like rash on her breast was one of the tell-tale signs her consultant pointed out to her, when the then 36-year-old, was examined in the Breast Clinic. The conversation focuses on how being diagnosed with breast cancer has utterly changed the direction of Teresa’s life and how her involvement with Breast Cancer Ireland as a Patient Ambassador for the past eight years, helping to raise vital funds to support pioneering research, has made an impact.
Teresa then turns the table and asks Aisling a few questions on what’s coming up for Breast Cancer Ireland over the summer and into the future. Aisling shares details of the charity’s education and awareness programmes, being the beneficiary of the 100k in 30days challenge organised by Niall Carroll and Cara McAdam from Blackrock, Co Louth, taking place this June, the plans for the Great Pink Run coming back in October after two years as a virtual event, and significantly how further investment into research and clinical trials will change the landscape of the disease in Ireland.
Dr Monica Peres is a GP based in Cork. She has an impressive 52k followers on TikTok and 64k followers on Instagram, where she gives health advice to her followers. In this episode, Dr Monica speaks to Aisling about some of the barriers women face in relation to checking their breasts regularly. She talks about what the most common 'misconceptions' about breast cancer are, in her experience, and why the disease might not always present as a lump.
Demmy Abedayo was just 41 years of age when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, early last year, six months after she first found a lump in her left breast. Following four months of chemotherapy, 16 sessions of radiotherapy, and with reconstructive surgery planned over the coming weeks, Demmy joins Aisling for this episode to share important messages around good breast health, particularly amongst women in the African community in Ireland. She talks about trusting science, leaning on the support of family and friends and taking ownership of our bodies, regularly checking ourselves for the signs and symptoms.
In this episode, Aisling talks to Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Jamie Martin-Smith about his career choice, running the general plastics clinic at Beaumont Hospital and managing the full spectrum of plastic surgical cases, as well as a dedicated reconstructive breast surgery clinic. He answers some of the questions that women in the Breast Cancer Ireland community ask in relation to how long they should wait for reconstruction following treatment, how to physically prepare for breast reconstruction surgery and how to deal with the after effects.
Georgie Crawford was due to return to work at the end of her maternity leave and only 31 years of age, when she first discovered a lump in her breast. Shortly afterwards she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
In those early days, weeks and months, as the impact of her diagnosis began to hit her, Georgie turned to the people in her life that she loved the most and who loved her. In particular her husband Jamie and her Mum Siobhan. Together they steadied her, put their loving arms around her and nurtured her back to health.
Now an ambassador for Breast Cancer Ireland, Georgie and Siobhan join Aisling to reflect on the past five years, the highs and the lows, and share with our listeners how finding that lump has utterly changed both of their lives, in so many ways
Juliette O'Connell was just 41-years-old when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, a chance check-up at the GP led to the unexpected news that threw her world upside down. The Limerick native admits she was simply not breast aware at the time, taking her health for granted and assuming that because she fit she was in good health.
Juliette is now an Outreach Coordinator with Breast Cancer Ireland, bringing important messages of good breast health to Transition Year Students, teachers as well as community groups and organisations throughout Munster. In this episode, Juliette shares her powerful story with Aisling and talks about the fact that she never thought, for one minute, that the rash she was ignoring for months would turn out to be breast cancer and very much more than a lump.
Dara McDonough found a lump whilst in the shower one morning. In this episode, Dara tells a powerful story, from a male breast cancer patient perspective, of finding himself in the unfamiliar surroundings of the waiting room of the Breast Care Centre, feeling like something of an outsider amongst the women around him. Now a long-term supporter of the work of Breast Cancer Ireland, he’s helping to raise the profile of the disease amongst the male population at large - as many people still don’t realise this disease can affect anyone – of any age – not just females.
Professor Arnie Hill is the Chairman of Breast Cancer Ireland and Head of the School of Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He is a General Breast and Endocrine Surgeon and the national advisor for surgical oncology for the National Cancer Control Programme (under the direction of Professor Tom Kean). Aisling and Arnie first met when Aisling joined the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) as Director of Development. Over the past 15 years, and through the establishment of Breast Cancer Ireland as a charity in 2011, they have experienced many great advances. As the Lead Clinician in the new Breast Centre located on the Beaumont Hospital Campus, Arnie chats with Aisling about this ground-breaking new centre, which is due to open in the summertime which will cater for the over 10,000 cases presented each year.
Emma Cassidy is science and PE teacher whose life changed dramatically on June 27, 2017. Just 3 months after her 30th birthday, she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, which came as a huge shock to Emma given there was no family history of the disease and incredibly none of the major symptoms associated with the disease. Instead, in the lead up to her diagnosis, Emma experienced what she describes as “overwhelming fatigue”, and in the absence of anything of any abnormalities showing up in her tests, Emma’s GP referred her to the Breast Clinic in Beaumont Hospital to get checked as a purely precautionary measure. Emma’s story is one of bravery and hope, culminating in much celebrated birth of her son Sam in late 2020.
Paula McClean was getting ready for a family wedding, where her three little girls were flower girls, one summer evening in July. She was applying tan to her arm and chest area when she felt a lump. In today’s podcast Paula shares her story of being diagnosed with Stage 2 Invasive Breast Cancer at the age of just 42, she talks about what made her get that lump checked, her treatment journey and why the emotional scars remain with her to this day, over 11 years later. Paula shares a really honest reflection on the trauma of a breast cancer diagnosis, the worries and anxieties it brings, even years later. She also chats to Aisling about how her love of fashion, running, and being part of a community of women who have travelled the same road as she has, has helped her, but most importantly Paula talks about how, as a mother of three little girls, who are now teenagers and young women, she is passionate about continued investment into breast cancer research. She wants to protect girls like her daughters and indeed future generations of Irish women, to make sure they survive and thrive, despite what life throws at them.
A diagnosis of breast cancer can cause a lifechanging ripple effect of impact, affecting those we love the most. In this podcast, Aisling Hurley CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland talks to a selection of guests about their very personal connections to breast cancer – be it through their career choice, their own first-hand experience of the disease, or through sharing the experience of close family members. Utterly unique stories on how breast cancer has informed their perspective on life, love, family, health, their goals, and aspirations, proving beyond doubt that breast cancer is more than a lump.