Team Catriona

On 6th January 2025 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was 39 years old with a very young, very active family and a very big milestone birthday on the horizon to be celebrated.

2025 was supposed to be my year! A year that already held so much promise with big plans already in place, but the biggest plan was yet to come!

The cancer diagnosis came after I discovered a tiny lump in my left breast one morning in the shower. I have always been breast aware as my mum had breast cancer when I was about 11. I hope that by reading this it encourages you to be breast and body aware whether you are male or female, and to go see a doctor if something doesn't feel right, as it might ultimately save your life.

As a result of my mum's cancer diagnosis I was swept into the world of family history clinics and screening later in life. Screening saves so many lives every year and if you are ever called for, or are offered screening jump at the chance!

My mum was a BRCA1 gene carrier which is a gene mutation that increases a persons risk of developing certain types of cancer over the course of their lifetime to 70%+. I would have a 50% chance of having the same gene and sadly, after a simple blood test, I found out that I was also a carrier. But positively, the family history clinic provided support and services to make sure i was screened, with yearly MRI's and mammograms if needed and breast care nurses who kept in touch to discuss the possibility of a preventative double mastectomy sometime in my future.

When the cancer diagnosis came ultimately it was a massive shock, but not a wholly unexpected one in the grand scheme of things.

A whirlwind later of meeting my lovely consultant/surgeon and his team at the City Hospital in Belfast on the 15th January 2025 I was booked for surgery. I asked if I could have a double mastectomy with reconstruction and his words were "wise choice". I told him that I would rather live my life without my boobs, than go to my grave with them!

On the 20th February 2025 I had a 7 hour surgery to have a double mastectomy and reconstruction. It was hard and painful and I'm not going to lie, it is still hard and painful in different ways on different days, but I'm here!

I have a beautiful family and outstanding friends who are going to help me give back in 2026 to the loveliest charities that helped me and my family through a devastating time and continue to help us to this day.

On St Patrick's Day 2026 myself, my husband Niall and team of family and friends are running the Spar Craic 10k to raise funds for the Cancer Fund for Children and Pretty 'n Pink.

We are very fortunate to have a great bunch of lovely friends and family who have decided to join us on the 10k and offered to help fundraise which is truly inspiring!

I am not a runner - truth be told I hate running! But I love these charities for the services that they provide and the difference they make. They offer so much in both big and small ways that are invaluable to so many people in so many ways.

So our ask is to please support the Cancer Fund for Children and Pretty 'n Pink by donating what you can so that they can continue to work to help people and their families who find themselves facing cancer.