Staff Profile: Michelle Lonergan, Cancer Awareness Nurse
“You can get through this. It is important to remember there is life after cancer.”
Michelle Lonergan travels across the country highlighting the signs and symptoms of cancer.
Michelle has worked as a nurse for 25 years, much of those at University Hospital Waterford, in both oncology and palliative care. She is now working with the Irish Cancer Society as a Cancer Awareness Nurse since 2022.
As far back as she can remember, Michelle has wanted to be a nurse. After a stay in the hospital when she was four years old, she was in awe of how caring the nurses there were to her. Ever since then, she’s known she had to pursue a career in nursing.
“I spent a month in the hospital with a ruptured appendix and, at the time, parents weren’t allowed to stay. The nurses there were so kind to me, and I guess that planted the seed.”
When she was a teenager, Michelle’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she passed away shortly after Michelle qualified as a nurse. Although Michelle has worked in different nursing departments, she has always felt the call to work with oncology.
“Despite trying out different areas, I always found myself coming back to cancer nursing. I find it really fulfilling and rewarding.”
Michelle’s role at the Irish Cancer Society centres on helping people to spot cancer early, and to highlight how they can reduce their chances of developing cancer in the future.
“Small changes over time, that’s the message we try to give to people, that small little changes, like focusing on diet and exercise, wearing sunscreen and getting any symptoms of concern checked by your GP, all stack up in the long run.”
Michelle’s job goes far beyond just answering the clinical questions around cancer. She takes on the role of a kind, trusted teacher and she is a firm advocate for cancer prevention and early detection.
“I’m going to assess what they might need first, be there and provide an ear to listen.”
Michelle shares her wealth of knowledge at road shows, corporate events, shopping centres and many more locations, answering queries and putting minds at ease as she goes. The presence of Michelle and her colleagues ensure that it’s not just information being provided wherever they work, but also connection.
“Our presence in the shopping centres is to try and create awareness around cancer, let people know about our services and invite people in.”
A challenge Cancer Awareness Nurses across Ireland face is the common misconceptions and pre-determined opinions many people may have about cancer and their health. Each day Michelle speaks with people who may not have had the opportunity to receive a real education on cancer, an education we all need and deserve.
“You can meet people and they already have formed opinions. I suppose, they think, ‘Well, I’m either going to get it or I’m not so I might as well live how I want to live, it doesn’t matter’.”
Cancer Awareness Nurses like Michelle see attitudes like this often, but they are here to help us all understand how we can take care of ourselves properly.
“Lots of people survive cancer, and I think that’s a huge one – people do survive cancer. While we say it, a lot of people don’t believe it.”
Early detection is another important layer of protection that being cancer aware can provide. As Michelle explains, the sooner you are able to identify a change in your body or health, the better.
Michelle uses leaflets, visual aids and props to help educate people on how to help themselves to identify any differences to their skin, body and physical health which may need further attention from a doctor. Every day, Michelle sees that many of us can be shy to undergo tests like these.
“People that have been affected by cancer or have had a bad experience, may not want to talk to you and you have to respect that.”
It is important to remember that Cancer Awareness Nurses like Michelle are there to help and want to make sure people are comfortable and feel listened to when they meet them. Early detection can make all the difference, which means it is hugely important for us all to know the initial signs of possible cancers, and to not feel afraid to reach out to the Irish Cancer Society or your GP.
Michelle finds her role at the Irish Cancer Society to be very rewarding, seeing the impact she’s able to have on people from all walks of life is what helps her to get up for work each morning.
“It’s those everyday conversations. It doesn’t have to be mind-blowing or life changing for it to be special for me. It’s just knowing that you gave somebody information that made a change to them, and you can see them going away, feeling a bit more confident and not as worried about something. So they’re the kind of things that make the job worthwhile.”
When Michelle isn’t dedicating her time to raising cancer awareness, she’s recharging herself by going for a walk in the woods with her dog. A well-deserved break to unwind after a full day of helping her community stay cancer-conscious.
