'I got up at 8.00am to go to hospital and by 12:30pm I was diagnosed with breast cancer' - Annette Faherty

On the week of Annette Faherty’s 40th birthday she noticed something unusual when she was getting out of the shower. “I had been feeling really tired and when I looked in the mirror, I noticed a huge dimple in my right breast. Besides the dimple and the tiredness, I had absolutely no symptoms. At that point I was a single mum with two kids, so very active and loved keeping fit.”

Annette immediately knew something was wrong and went to see her GP. She was told the symptoms were unusual due to her age but was referred on to Limerick Regional Hospital for a Triple Assessment. 

“I had a mammogram and an ultrasound. They knew straight away it was cancer, without taking a biopsy. I didn’t think I would be diagnosed that same day. I got up at 8.00am to go to hospital and by 12:30pm I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”
 

“I found the chemotherapy very tough. At the same time, I felt a lot of guilt. You see the sadness in your family’s eyes. You see the affect it is having on them. I didn’t want to ask for help. I felt guilty for my partner; I had only met him six weeks before I was diagnosed. I felt guilty for my kids; because of the treatment, I couldn’t fully care for them the way I wanted.” 

Eventually Annette did reach out for help: “I got referred to a psychotherapist and also went to counselling. I wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t asked for help and used those services. Those supports are there for everyone, no matter your diagnosis or age. They helped me so much. I felt understood, I could speak to them about things that I couldn’t say to my family because I knew it would upset them.”

Reflecting on her experience, Annette now sees things differently: “I no longer look at life in the same way, I appreciate every morning I wake up. Cancer is such a scary word for so many. Thankfully it isn't always the end of the journey, but the beginning of a new one, like it was for me. I hope that in the future when our kids hear the word cancer they aren’t as scared of the word as I was. It is a tough journey, but with a positive mindset, help and support, you can get through it. During my treatment I did a lot of journaling and wrote poems. I've always written poems but writing during the treatment really helped me express my feelings in a very personal way. 

"Also for anyone that is supporting someone going through a diagnosis, remember the person is still the same person they were before. I got a lot of support with meals, driving and cleaning. Don’t get me wrong, that was so appreciated, but sometimes I really just wanted someone to bring me to the park, sit down beside me and to have a chat.”