Ian had his first head and neck cancer diagnosis in 1989 at the age of just 29, and it returned once more in 2003 around his 43rd birthday. Since then, for over 20 years, Ian has thankfully been given the all-clear.
“I had an unusual blister on my tongue, and I went to the local doctor, who told me keep an eye on it, but it should go away itself, nothing much to worry about. This was 1989, and things maybe weren’t as advanced as they are now, of course,” explains Ian.
“I was on holiday in Germany, West Germany as it was then, visiting my brother—he was a civilian employee on a US Army Base in Munich—when I noticed my blister getting much worse. I had awful headaches and pain around my mouth and jaws. My brother took me to see a doctor on the Army Base and they said I needed to be transferred to a hospital immediately. They ran all sorts of tests and scans on me and eventually a biopsy, which led to my cancer diagnosis.”
Upon his return to Ireland, Ian brought all the translated documentation given to him by the medical team in Germany to his local hospital where he had a procedure to remove the cancerous lump and begin his treatment.
“I had to have an operation to remove the tumour and this meant I lost a bit of my tongue and they also had to take some lymph nodes around my neck and shoulders area. After that, by the January of 1990, I was onto radiotherapy and I found this quite difficult: I dropped weight down to about 8 stone, from my usual 10 and a half stone. The burning was really hard on my skin as well but you have to get through it.”
Within 2 years of his diagnosis, that September 1989, Ian was back playing rugby with his local team, Cork Constitution RFC, where he went on to play for another 4 or 5 seasons, he says.
“People thought I was mad going back playing rugby, but the focus on getting back playing and getting my health and fitness back, that kept me going and gave me something to aim for.”
“People thought I was mad going back playing rugby, but the focus on getting back playing and getting my health and fitness back, that kept me going and gave me something to aim for.”
In September 2003, Ian explains that his cancer returned “I woke up one morning and felt something, this time down the back of my tongue and I knew straight away, it felt unusual and it felt the same as before.”
Almost 14 years to the day when he received his first diagnosis, a further biopsy confirmed that Ian’s head and neck cancer was back. “This time, the procedure was more difficult. Removing the tumour meant I lost more of my tongue and they also had to take a piece of my jaw. Radiotherapy again, the whole lot. By this stage, my children were teenagers and I know the diagnosis and treatment was difficult for them. I was just delighted we caught it early – it was still tough, but it would have been so much tougher without the support of my family and friends”.
After coming through his second round of treatment, Ian says he’s incredibly thankful for the care he received and the ongoing support and continuous check ups over the following ten years. “It put my mind at rest, getting checked over and to keep checking in case anything came back.”
“It’s been a privilege to be involved in some great days, some bad ones as well, but mostly good. I was there with Munster for the European Cup wins, and the defeats."
Throughout his career, and between and following his cancer diagnoses, Ian has been able to combine his day job with his commitment to and work with Munster Rugby, as well as the Ireland Rugby Team at underage and senior level.
“It’s been a privilege to be involved in some great days, some bad ones as well, but mostly good. I was there with Munster for the European Cup wins, and the defeats.” After the wins in 2006 and 2008, Ian was chiefly responsible for minding the trophy itself and getting it to and from its important appointments, everything from school visits, to corporate engagements.
Ian’s love of rugby continued after his playing days and through his work with his beloved Munster and the Ireland national team, he has travelled all over the world. 20 years on from his last cancer scare, Ian, who will be 63 in September, says he feels lucky to have come through his two brushes with cancer and is encouraging anybody who notices any lumps or bumps in the mouth or around the neck area to get them checked out without delay.
"Saying “Ah sure, I’ll be grand in the morning” is one of the worst things we Irish people, especially men, say when it comes to looking after our health, says Ian."
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