Tag Archives: Irish Cancer Society

A CLARE woman who is 26 weeks pregnant and undergoing treatment for breast cancer is urging the people of Clare to support cancer patients by getting involved with the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day on Friday March 24.  34 year old Ciara Jones from Newmarket on Fergus was diagnosed with breast cancer, on the very same day that she learned she was 4 weeks pregnant. Because of her pregnancy, Ciara’s medical team advised the mum of two to wait until 12 weeks to begin treatment, she says the waiting was the hardest part.  “There are no words for how I felt in those weeks. I had a lot of fear around losing the baby, that was really hard especially because I was told I wouldn’t be able to have any more kids. I couldn’t just try for another, it was a scary thought. But the pregnancy also helped me and gave me a focus. At 10 weeks, the lump had …

A CLARE woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer has opened up about her experience of taking part in clinical trials, and is encouraging others to ask their doctors if a trial is suitable for them. Sarah McGrath from Clarecastle, who has been nominated by government to be the next Ambassador to Singapore, was diagnosed with hormone receptor positive breast cancer in May 2020. On her last medical oncology appointment she heard about the opportunity to take part in the ‘Add Aspirin’ clinical trial funded by the Irish Cancer Society which is ongoing and focussed on studying non-occurrence. She says it was an “easy decision” to take part in the trial and the experience has been “very positive”. Sarah spoke to The Clare Champion ahead of International Clinical Trials Day on May 20, with Cancer Trials Ireland hosting a free webinar on clinical trials for members of the public on the day. Usually based in Dublin Sarah tells us it …

EVERY year the town of Ennis transforms itself into a field of golden yellow for Daffodil Day as the county capital embraces the annual fundraiser for the Irish Cancer Society, writes Jessica Quinn. Volunteer fundraisers can be seen on almost every corner selling bunches of the spring flowers as well as other items in aid of the charity’s flagship fundraising day which is always generously supported locally. Behind this monumental effort has been a dedicated volunteer committee, many of whom have been involved with the charity for more than 30 years. After decades of service to the community, the organising committee are taking a well deserved retirement and they are encouraging others to take up the mantle to ensure that Daffodil Day in Ennis continues to be as successful as ever for the charity. Daffodil Day was brought to Ennis in 1989, one year after its initial launch in Dublin, by Michael Guerin Snr and following his passing, that baton …

AS WE face into a second summer of restricted events, Relay for Life Ennis won’t let a pandemic stop them from keeping up the fight against cancer. Instead of gathering at Tim Smythe Park, Relay for Life Ennis will be gathering virtually again this year to help raise awareness and needed funds for the Irish Cancer Society. Auriol Considine, Relay for Life Ennis Chairperson, said: “Relay for Life Ennis has grown into an important community event, and we didn’t want that community spirit to lose momentum. We are challenging teams to collectively walk 240kms by June 19 sticking with the 24 [hour] theme of the actual event. We have some other enthusiastic teams that have decided to do their own events such as hiking Mullaghmore and Carrauntoohill or running in Lahinch. We’re thrilled with whatever way people want to get involved as it all helps to raise awareness and builds community spirit which is at the heart of Relay for …

AN OPEN letter has been sent by the family of the late campaigner Laura Brennan appealing to health officials to reinstate the HPV vaccination scheme for teens. As the second anniversary of the Ennis woman’s untimely death from cervical cancer approaches, her family fear that the vaccination campaign, to which Laura dedicated her final years and months, is being thrown off course by pandemic restrictions. Laura’s work with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Health Service Executive (HSE), led to uptake rates for the HPV vaccine surpassing 80% nationally and 90% in Clare. Pandemic restrictions and school closures have disrupted the HPV vaccination programme normally available, free-of-charge, to boys and girls in first year at secondary school. The HSE describes the scheme as “paused” because school vaccination teams are currently involved in the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines. “We are all fully aware of the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on our country and the strain it has put on …

EVENTS this summer are cancelled across the globe, but Relay for Life Ennis is keeping their promise not to give up until cancer does.   Instead of gathering at Tim Smythe Park, Relay for Life Ennis will be gathering virtually this year to help raise awareness and needed funds for the Irish Cancer Society. On Saturday, June 20 the Ennis community are asked to Relay from Home.  Auriol Considine, Relay for Life Ennis Chairperson, explains, “Relay for Life Ennis has grown into an important community event, and we didn’t want that community spirit to lose momentum. The virtual event is themed ‘24 for Life’ as the event runs typically for 24 hours. Everyone can get involved with activities related to the theme; do 24 laps of the garden, bake 24 cupcakes, sing 24 songs or 24 of anything else you enjoy doing. We are also running a children’s art competition with pictures of being at home for 24 hours. We’re encouraging …

A CLARE teenager is proving to be a cut above with her fundraising efforts for the Irish Cancer Society. Ella Fitzpatrick, a transition year student at Colaiste Muire in Ennis is going to shave off her 14 inch long hair for the charity. The 16-year-old has been be joined by her father Tadhg and family friend John Galvin who will also both have their heads shaved. While two other Colaiste students, Rebecca Meaney and Emma Foxx have agreed to dye their hair pink for the cause. Already the fundraising drive has surpassed its €3,000 target, a delighted Ella tells us. She had planned to shave her head at an event at the Inn at Dromoland, however this had to be cancelled due to Covid-19. Instead, she will cut her hair this Saturday from the socially distant location of her Newmarket-on-Fergus home, and will video the occasion and put on social media. She explains that she had wanted to take part …

MORE out-of-hours support for end-of-life patients requiring specialised pain management are needed, according to a local carer, who has outlined the “nightmare” experience in looking after her late mother. While the Irish Cancer Society does provide a night nurse for an average of 10 nights, up to a maximum of 14, the carer stated this is inadequate for anyone looking after a patient at home for a number of months. Apart from this service, the carer claimed Milford Hospice, which is the main palliative care provider in the Mid-West, is not in a position to send out a night nurse to deliver pain relief for a patient in the middle of the night. Nursing her mother, who was in her eighties, at home for four months, the carer stated phone support is only available from Milford after 6pm. “No doctor ever came out to my home. I had to take my mother once to a doctor at 10.30pm, some four …