Your Stories
People are at the heart of everything we do - people with cancer and their loved ones; people who volunteer; people who fundraise; people who deliver our vital cancer services.
Learn more about the people we support and our supporters.
People living with and beyond cancer
Stories of cancer patients and survivors
"From the moment I found out, I said I would do whatever I needed or have whatever treatment was required to save my life"
"My jaw just hit the floor. I really wasn’t expecting a stomach cancer diagnosis, and I was in a bit of a blur"
“I cried on my way home in the car. My poor dad comforted me the whole way back. Telling the rest of my family was really tough.”
“It could have been a lot worse for me and I’m so grateful to be able to tell my story to raise awareness of bowel cancer”
"Services like the Irish Cancer Society’s Free Transport Service are so important"
‘The Daffodil Centre were brilliant’
“I know my cancer diagnosis will make me a better oncology nurse, I have now been on both sides of this experience.”
‘My cancer experience inspired me to chase my acting dream’
"It’s important not to be ashamed if you have to revisit any feelings you have about your diagnosis, you are left with a lot to process"
“I like to see my cancer as a pause in my life, a really bad pause, but a pause all the same.”
“6 months ago I struggled to even think about getting out of bed and now I am taking on a 10k run” - Ovarian cancer survivor Emma
'Go get yourself checked out. Sometimes we men can be a bit macho about the whole thing,' says lymphoma survivor Paul.
‘Without vital cancer research I wouldn’t have had treatment options’
Men's Health
Highlighting stories to do with Men's Health
‘I was amazed with the care I got’
‘Staying active was a huge part of my recovery’
Testicular cancer - ‘It changed my attitude to life entirely’
Prostate cancer - ‘I’ve opened up to my friends because I don’t want them to have the same issue’
Jamie Power – 'It was tough trying to shield my four children from the madness of treatment and stay on an even keel'
David Wilkins – 'Counselling has had a hugely calming effect on me'
Michael Moran – ‘Testicular cancer has become very treatable and curable’
Wicklow-based cameraman and photographer Stu Teehan was sitting in his chair in the office one day in 2019 when he noticed what he describes as a “strange feeling” in his testicle.
Irish Cancer Society volunteers
Thousands of volunteers nationwide donate their time to support the Society and help cancer patients
'I was delighted that I could, in a very practical way, support the Irish Cancer Society,' says Volunteer Driver John.
Fran is a cancer survivor and Survivor Support Volunteer - ‘You learn how to listen; how to help’
Niamh Fortune is one of our inspiring patient advocates, helping in the decision on what research we should fund.
Parent peer support volunteer Laura shares her family's experience of childhood cancer
"It’s only two days a month of a commitment, but the reward you get is fantastic" - Volunteer Driver Katy
"It’s the commitment that people have which makes it special" - Daffodil Day volunteer Shannon Daunt
Cancer survivor Caitríona helps by volunteering for the Irish Cancer Society’s Survivor Support service
Meet Dora Bracken, who has been volunteering for the Irish Cancer Society's Daffodil Day for over 30 years
Irish Cancer Society fundraisers
The Irish Cancer Society's services and cancer research rely on donations and fundraising from generous members of the public
St. James’s Covid-19 ward nurses taking on another big challenge this August
Meath woman Ann Marie Grall aims to walk 500 miles for the 10th anniversary of the Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge.
Longford man Tom’s charity single goes straight to number one in the Irish iTune charts
Friends Dee Newell & Dee O'Raw created the Deeswimber challenge to get people swimming in December
Following her Mam's cancer diagnosis, Aoife from Athlone started a baking fundraiser to give back to the Irish Cancer Society
Darren Campbell is thru-hiking through the USA's Continental Divide Trail in memory of his cousin Eugene.
Meet the groups and individuals who have been shaving and dying their hair to raise money for cancer services
Irish Cancer Society researchers
Thanks to your support, the Irish Cancer Society funds over 100 cancer researchers across Ireland.
“Immunotherapy has changed the face of lung cancer treatment, and is now being given for earlier stage lung cancers, with long term benefit in some cases. So the dream is being realised.”
“When we were engaging with patients with younger children, they would say to us ‘it’s the hair loss that makes my children know I’m sick’. That really struck a chord with us.”
“Although it’s scary to find out that you have a genetic cancer risk, it is empowering because if you can do something about that risk and prevent the cancer or catch it early that is so valuable.”
Blood cancer researcher Graeme Sullivan was recently awarded a three-year Translational Research Fellowship by the Irish Cancer Society.
Cancer research is often regarded as a complex topic, but the overall aim of Sophie Mulcahy Symmons’ cervical cancer research project couldn’t be simpler.
‘It’s an honour to do something you love every day’
Endometrial cancer researcher Martin Brennan – ‘I want to bring about positive change for the cancer community’.
Lymphoma researcher Dr Daniel Angelov – ‘I saw these patients get sicker & sicker. I wanted to find something to help them’
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Volunteer to share your cancer story
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1800 200 700
