Amanda Kennedy has been always been conscious of how important it is to be breast aware. “I am very vigilant about checking my breasts every month, particularly as there is a history of cancer in my family,” says Amanda, who lives in Clondalkin.
In December 2021, she found a lump in her left breast. “I thought, ‘I don’t like this’ and I rang to make an appointment with the doctor straight away,” Amanda recalls.
The doctor examined her and referred her for a non-urgent mammogram. This took place in late February 2022 and when she went to get the results on April 21, she was told that the mammogram looked normal and that she would have a follow-up appointment in a few months.
However, Amanda wanted to know what the lump was and she was still concerned. “You know in your own gut that something isn’t right and I knew myself there was something wrong,” she says.
A consultant who ordered further tests for her, including a biopsy and a scan. On June 9, Amanda was told that she had invasive lobular breast cancer, which is difficult to detect. She started her treatment plan, which included hormone therapy and surgery, which she had on June 21 of this year. She is also due to start the first of 15 sessions of radiotherapy
“I’m very glad that I was determined to find out what the lump was and that I went with my gut feeling that something was wrong,” says Amanda. “I know I’m one of the lucky ones because the cancer hasn’t spread anywhere else. The surgeon removed five lymph nodes and they were all clear. I was very grateful for that,” Amanda says.
She has drawn on the support of her husband and her 19-year-old son. She has also found that being open about her cancer diagnosis has helped her and she hopes that someone in a similar situation might be helped by reading her story. “I didn’t want to hide it,” Amanda says.
“I think sometimes people don’t know what to say and they’re afraid of upsetting you. My own personal thing is I wanted to put it out there and let people ask me questions about my breast cancer and I will answer them as best I can.”
“I think sometimes people don’t know what to say and they’re afraid of upsetting you. My own personal thing is I wanted to put it out there and let people ask me questions about my breast cancer and I will answer them as best I can.”
Amanda is delighted to be supporting the Irish Cancer Society's Care For Your Pair campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To learn more about the campaign, visit: cancer.ie/careforyourpair #CareForYourPair
Host a Big Pink Breakfast
Host a Big Pink Breakfast this October to support breast cancer patients and their families across Ireland.
Find out more at: Cancer.ie/CareForYourPair
