Sharon's Story
“I think people should be aware of their bodies and get any changes checked by their GP.”
Sharon Smyth, 55, from Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare, was lying in bed one morning when she decided to do a breast check. This was in October 2012, a week after her father had passed away, and Sharon was surprised when she found a small lump.
“It felt like a small little bump in my right breast,” says Sharon. “I phoned a friend who came over and felt it too, and then I rang my GP and got an appointment.”
When she went to her GP’s surgery, Sharon’s breast was examined by a nurse, her GP and then a breast nurse who was in the practice. The decision was made to send Sharon for further tests.
“They referred me for a mammogram, but they told me if I used the public system, I’d be waiting two weeks,” says Sharon. “Luckily, at the time, I had private health insurance, so I got an appointment in Galway the next day.
“They did different tests. The first mammogram didn’t pick up anything, but an ultrasound picked up the lump. They decided to do a biopsy, and then I was sent for another mammogram and was sent home.”
Two weeks later, Sharon returned to Galway where she was told the results of her biopsy.
“They told me I had an aggressive form of cancer called triple negative breast cancer,” says Sharon. “I felt awful when I was told that. I didn’t even have time to grieve my dad’s passing, my cancer diagnosis happened so soon after it.
“My three sons were 16, 15 and 12 at the time, and I immediately thought of them. I didn’t know what to do. My world fell apart. I had no family support, but I had great friends who were always there for me.”
Sharon’s treatment consisted of a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She still lives with the effects of her treatment. She now has two different sized breasts, as she wasn’t offered reconstruction surgery, and can no longer lift heavy items.
She finished her treatment in July 2013 and her scans have come back clear ever since.
“I knew things were going well when my scans after treatment came back clear,” says Sharon. “I used to have to go for a mammogram every six months, but they’ve spaced it out more and now I go for a yearly mammogram because my scans have all come back clear.”
The main motivation for Sharon sharing her story is to encourage people to check their breasts regularly. She started regularly carrying out her own breast checks, which led to her finding the lump, due to a family history of cancer.
“My mother died of ovarian cancer,” explains Sharon, “so I’ve also been very aware of my body and paid attention to any changes.”
As for advice for anyone who has recently been diagnosed with cancer, Sharon says adopting a positive mindset and having things to look forward to are key.
“You should try to keep a positive mindset, because if you feel like you’ve given up, that makes it all so much harder. And you have to keep setting goals for yourself. My goal was my son’s Confirmation the summer after I was diagnosed. I had it all planned and knew I wanted to be there, and I was.”
Sharon adds: “I think it’s also really important to be open about things and to talk to people about how you feel, and what you’re going through.”
