Tag Archives: ovarian cancer

IRELAND has the highest death rate in Europe from Ovarian cancer, with more than 75% of patients only presenting when the disease is at a late stage. Tulla’s Anne Murphy works as a nurse with Clare Cancer Support and also works on raising awareness of ovarian cancer, having been diagnosed with it ten years ago. “My sister and myself were diagnosed at the same time. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 and my sister Gráinne was diagnosed with late stage. She died 22 months after being diagnosed,” says Anne. Anne herself had her treatment and is still in good health, which she feels is largely down to the disease not having progressed very far by the time of diagnosis. Research was commissioned lately on Irish women’s awareness of the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer and some 80% did not recognise the symptoms, a statistic Anne describes as “very stark”. To try and push home what people should look for, an acronym …

A SURVIVOR of ovarian cancer has paid tribute to her late sister on what would have been her 50th birthday. Anne Murphy, a nurse from Tulla, is also urging other women to be aware of the symptoms, as World Ovarian Cancer Day is marked on Saturday. While Anne’s cancer was found early, her sister Gráinne was at stage four when her condition was diagnosed. “Tragically, Gráinne passed away before her 42nd birthday,” said Anne. “She had been attending various doctors for two years and when she was finally diagnosed, her cancer was terminal. Ovarian cancer presents with symptoms that are often put down to other conditions, from endometriosis to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Gráinne had had a baby six months previously and she was told her symptoms were connected to pregnancy.” Gráinne’s diagnosis was, in many ways, the catalyst for the detection of Anne’s own condition. “After Gráinne’s cancer was discovered, I went back to my own doctor and asked …

THE husband of a Doolin woman who passed away from ovarian cancer earlier this year will lead an entourage of over 200 Harley-Davidson motorcyclists from around the world through the Burren this weekend. Harley-Davidson owners from across Ireland, the UK and the United States will descend on the North Clare village of Doolin this Friday for the Doolin Harley Fest 2014 which continues through until Sunday. The festival is being held in aid of the Marie Clancy McDonagh Foundation, set up by the family and friends of local woman Marie Clancy McDonagh who died in May from ovarian cancer at the age of 38. Marie’s husband James and his two brothers, Mark and John as well as local man Jimmy Boyle are motorcycle enthusiasts and have partnered with Hotel Doolin to organise the festival, which they hope will become an annual event. Doolin Harley Fest 2014 will feature a charity ride through the Burren, a bike parade in Doolin, a …