Killaloe woman recalls return of breast cancer

A KILLALOE woman, who has raised almost €90,000 with the help of friends for cancer treatment, has revealed her devastation about the return of breast cancer two years ago.

As supporters from all over the region prepare to don the pink t-shirts for Killaloe’s 10km Pink Ribbon Walk in aid of Action Breast Cancer on June 16, Bernie Ahern’s story should prove an inspiration to all.
Bernie (nee O’Halloran) was born and reared in Killaloe and now lives in Portroe overlooking Lough Derg with her husband, Peter and three sons, David, Darren and Jason.
She has fought and overcome a daunting challenge over the past ten years and she will be in Killaloe on the day to see this year’s walk off from the Lakeside Hotel and to lend her considerable support to the cause.
Just before Christmas 2002, Bernie found a small lump on her right breast.
“I was having a shower and thought that I’d make a quick check. I couldn’t believe it when I found a small lump, just as they said, like a pea. My first instinct was to ignore it, so I left it for a week hoping that it would go away. I checked again on December 10 and it was still there and I knew I had to see a doctor fast.”
She was seen by the then chief surgeon at Nenagh General Hospital, Dr David McAvinchey. A few days later, the results confirmed her worst fears – the lump was malignant.
“I was terrified,” she recalls. “The children were very young. My youngest son, Jason, was only five-years-old when I had the mastectomy. Then I had to undergo six very tough sessions of chemotherapy. I don’t know how we’d have survived without the support of our family and especially of the people of Portroe. They were wonderful.”
One thing that never bothered her, she says, was losing her hair. “That was the least of my troubles,” she recalls.
After coming through that ordeal, Bernie could have been excused for sitting back and taking life easy. Instead, she ploughed all her resources into fundraising for cancer care and other charities, including the Regional Hospital Oncology unit. To date, with the help of friends, she has raised nearly €90,000. A couple of weeks ago, she gave a moving interview on Ryan Tubridy’s morning show promoting an evening she and two friends, Annette Stratten and Imelda Chadwick, held in Garrykennedy where they raised over €8,000 for Suaimhneas in Nenagh and the North Tipperary Hospice.
Two years ago, Bernie was devastated when she discovered an abnormality in her left breast. The cancer was back. “This time, the lump was a completely different shape, more oblong. I think women should be aware that it doesn’t always present as a small hard lump like a pea.”
After a second mastectomy, another round of chemotherapy began, “way worse than the first time”.
“I prayed to God to leave me here until Jason was at least 20 and if he’d care to leave me a bit longer, it would be a bonus,” she said, with flash of her inimitable humour, which she says helped to see her through the worse times.
She said she wouldn’t describe herself as religious, “But I never go to sleep without saying a prayer”. In all the crises of her life so far, she has felt the presence of her mother who died when she was just and of her late father, Chris O’Halloran of Killaloe, who passed away in recent years.
Free of cancer now, she tried breast reconstruction after being urged to do so by friends. “It didn’t work and I’m not bothered,” she notes.
Her message to women is, “There is a life after breast cancer. But my advice to anyone in that situation is take all the help you can get. You can’t do it all yourself and people are really great when you’re in trouble.”  
Meanwhile, over 100 volunteers have helped the Killaloe Pink Ribbon Walk raise a staggering €136,000 for Action Breast Cancer over a two-year period, the organisers revealed this week.
Not content to rest on their laurels, the hard working committee hopes to achieve the ambitious target of securing 1,000 walkers from the locality, as well as new walkers and runners from further afield.
Committee chairperson Nicola Wood also highlighted an action-packed calendar of events leading up to the walk itself.
“We are very grateful of the support of Clare, Limerick and Tipperary County Councils, as well as through local sports clubs and businesses. We are also delighted to have the continued support of our brand ambassador, Barbara McMahon,” she said.
For the committee, the event is as much about raising awareness of breast cancer as it is about raising funds to help fight it. “Early detection is essential for successful treatment of breast cancer and part of our objective with this walk is to help raise awareness so that those who contract breast cancer have the best possible chance of beating it.
“This is a very serious issue, of course, but we have also successfully sought to develop a real sense of fun and participation around the walk. There was an incredible sense of camaraderie and spirit at last year’s event and we couldn’t have a better backdrop than here by the Shannon in Killaloe, one of the prettiest places in Ireland.
“The town was literally covered in pink for the walk last year. Shops were decked out in pink and every walker wears a special pink t-shirt. People living along the route even got involved by decorating their houses with pink and some even hung out pink bras. It was incredible and we expect the same and more this year,” she added.
Entertainment trio The Nualas helped put their best foot forward to announce details of the walk on June 16.
It starts at The Lakeside Hotel in Ballina, across the historic bridge to Killaloe, through the foothills overlooking Lough Derg, before heading back to The Lakeside Hotel. 
A fundraiser to get people motivated for the walk with bootcamp activities will take place at the UL Activity Centre on this Saturday.
Local boutiques in Killaloe and Ballina will host a fashion showcase on Thursday, May 24, with hair and makeup by local hairdressers and beauty salons, supported by the Hilary Thompson Modelling Agency.
In addition to the fashion show, there will be stalls for local businesses and three lucky ladies will be given a make-over on the night.
For further details, including registration, fitness tips and fundraising ideas as well as upcoming events, or to help with volunteering on the day, see  www.pinkribbonwalk.ie, www.facebook.com/pinkribbonwalk or www.twitter.com/pinkribbonwalks.