Tara’s Story:
Highlighting Go Pink 🎗 for Breast Cancer Care this October.
We recently sat down for a chat with Tara, who’s receiving treatment for breast cancer at the Mater Hospital. Tara was diagnosed on the 12th September 2022 and after our chat she was heading for her first mammogram since that date … her first mammogram since undergoing treatment.
When we talked she took us back to April this year, as she was reaching the end of her chemotherapy sessions, to give us an insight into her journey and just how she was feeling at that time…
“This afternoon I am in the Mater Hospital for my 5th Chemo session. Chemo #5 of 6. Nearly there. Hard to believe that in three weeks (all going well) I’ll be attending for the last session. The staff here are amazing.
“People receiving treatment are not too chatty, understandably, but the nurses try to lift the mood and have the craic. Some patients are bald and some are in wigs, some it’s hard to tell. Some are women, some are men, some are angry with the world and some just smile. The unknown is a difficult road to travel.
“For me, my journey has a destination, it’s a positive destination, but it’s a rocky road. I can come in here knowing that my cancer was removed from my breast successfully, and a ‘dot’ removed from 1 of 4 lymph nodes during the same surgery. My cancer is gone. I am absolutely BLESSED! I know how lucky I am.
“The chemo journey is tough… it builds up in my body causing fatigue that takes so, so long to lift. I get an ‘inner shake’ from head to toe… I have anxiety ++… I am menopausal, full of emotions and hot flushes galore. Two days after chemo, I have to give myself an injection to rejuvenate the good cells that get blasted along with the bad cells in my body. This brings me pain in my lower back especially, it is uncomfortable and sometimes I can’t sleep with it.
“But I see upsides… I can tolerate the chemo side effects… the pain means my bone marrow is rejuvenating, and I can literally feel it like popcorn popping in my bones. It is working! The anti-sickness drugs are amazing… and the healthcare is amazing.
“All my family are amazing, too. My Dad cooks for me and makes sure I eat and take meds when I am supposed to. Mam is waiting on a knee replacement, so her mobility is not great, but I’m blessed to have her for my many crying sessions, especially late at night, she just comforts me as I cry like a baby. And, my friends – they’ve all been so wonderful, especially Patrice who’s with me for all my appointments.
“I’ve struggled with depression and sometimes it makes day to day things a battle. On top of that, there’s the additional menopause hassle – I had to come off the HRT when diagnosed – I worried about this a lot, as it had been working well. So far I’m doing ok, but it’s something that I fear may kick in again when getting back to ‘normality’ after chemo.
“Next up is radiotherapy. I have an appointment next week for assessment. It won’t be as hard as chemo on my body, but still I know there are side effects. I’m also on Herceptin – my wonder drug. It treats the type of cancer that I have. It’s also treating any other cells that may have been stirring at the same time as my diagnosis. The lymph node having a ‘dot’ worries me, but the Herceptin will catch everything. I’ll be on this until the end of the year, with a Herceptin injection every three weeks once chemo is finished. I’m currently having it with my chemo. I have breathlessness as a side effect, but it’s manageable.
“If I could give two bits of advice:
Please GET YOUR BOOBS AND BITS CHECKED. Early detection, with no symptoms, saved my life when I was called for my first routine mammogram. And discuss any HRT concerns with your GP.”
Tara Smith, Dublin
Tara’s treatment continues to go well and she is sharing her story to raise awareness of the importance of routine mammograms, and to help highlight our Go Pink 🎗 Campaign this October. Will you Go Pink 🎗 for breast cancer care at the Mater Hospital? https://www.materfoundation.ie/gopink/
