Hazel's Story
“A lot of people tend to leave things, but the surgeon said if I’d waited another five or six weeks to go to my GP, the cancer would’ve progressed and my prognosis and treatment would’ve been a lot different.”
Hazel Brennan, 50, from Athlone began to experience significant tiredness in September 2024 but put this down to her busy home and work life. A mother-of-two and a self-employed salon owner, Hazel noticed a new symptom in January 2025 that led her to visit her GP.
“I went away on holiday with my husband, John,” says Hazel. “We were staying in a hotel, and I threw my towel on the glass panel of the shower. When I got out of the shower, I reached up to get the towel and I was able to see myself in the mirror and realised when I raised my arm up to get my towel that there was indentation that appeared under my left nipple. I hadn’t noticed it before.
“When we got back home, I went to see my GP to get it checked out. She examined it, and said I’ll send you off to get it checked. I still didn’t panic at that stage. I went to Galway to get it checked. My appointment for Galway was in March, but my GP said that was too long for me to wait and called them and got me an appointment for February.”
At the Breast Clinic in Galway, Hazel was examined, had an ultrasound and a biopsy was taken. The following week, she returned to the clinic for her results.
“They said they discovered I had two types of breast cancer – lobular and ductal, and I needed to get a full mastectomy,” says Hazel.
“They could’ve knocked me off the chair with a feather when they told me. I didn’t think there was anything wrong, even when they did the biopsy. I just thought they were being cautious.”
After receiving her diagnosis, Hazel immediately thought of her children, Sean and Sarah, who were then aged 15 and 12.
“My husband and I decided we’d tell them the truth from day one and would just be really honest with them,” says Hazel. “When we told them the news, they were upset but they took it on the chin. We told them everything that was happening every step of the way.”
On the 11th of March 2025, Hazel had a mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. The surgery was successful, but Hazel found the recovery period afterwards to be a difficult experience.
“When I came back from hospital after my surgery, everyone was great,” says Hazel. “But it was very tough, because I couldn’t look in the mirror for ages afterwards because I didn’t want to see the reality of everything that I’d gone through.”
While going through this, Hazel’s children were at the forefront of her mind. She was determined for life to continue on as normal for them while she recovered.
“I remember, when I was younger, there used to a thing where neighbours would say, ‘Don’t go to that person’s house, their mam is sick’ and I didn’t want it to be like that for my children. I wanted them to continue to have their friends over in the house, and for life to be as normal as it could be for them.”
Hazel is now doing well but still feels the effects having had cancer. She manages it on a day-by-day basis.
“People are well meaning when they say things like, ‘You look great’, but it’s hard,” says Hazel. “Your energy is through the floor and you’re dead on your feet, but you still have to get up every day and do your hair and get dressed.
“You’re trying to keep things as normal as you can. It has been tough, and it’s still tough – some days I’m great, and some days I’m on the floor.
“But I’ve had wonderful support from my husband and our children. They help to pick me back up when I feel low and have been so kind, encouraging and understanding. Having strong support makes such a big difference, and my family have really helped me to get through the last few months.”
Hazel is sharing her story to highlight the importance of getting any symptoms of concern checked out, as her breast surgeon shared with her that if she had waited, her prognosis and treatment could’ve been very different.
“It’s so important to go to your GP with any changes you notice,” says Hazel. “If I had waited a few weeks, my experience would’ve been a very different one. Just make sure you don’t delay going to your GP if you notice anything of concern.”
