Rachel's story

It's time ....

I have kept a secret for awhile .. my gut is telling me now it's time for me to share and spread as much awareness as I possibly can and that's what I'm going to do. One month after my mother passed away I was brought in to a room and told I had breast cancer. I can't remember anything else said only those words. I remember thinking how can this be happening within one month of each other to have two of the worst things happen you that possible could. It had not even sank in mam was gone let alone this. All I could think about was my kids I needed to protect them . I decided that I wasn't going to tell them as I didn't want them to have any traumatic memories of me being sick with cancer. I had an excellent prognosis as I had found the lump early stage 1. I put on my fighting shoes and knew what I had to do. Like any race I ever had I visualised the finish line. I had to keep it as normal as possible and thats exactly what I did. I got up for school with the kids when they went to school I went back to bed and got up for when they were home at 3 o clock, i still played board games and went on the zip line up in the park lol. I knew I had to tell the kids something so I said my hair fell out after mam died. I had a wig so I was just waiting for it to grow back. They both were brilliant and didn't make a big deal of it. That's kids for you! I knew I had to tell them but I needed it to be the right time when I was able to sit down and be my strong self and they wouldn't notice a difference just something that had happened. That time came for Isabelle a couple of was ago..it was the right time, and she asked me" when did it happen... years ago?" . Well I felt like I won the lotto as I had done exactly what I set out to do . No bad memories for her at all just me having a chat with her about what happened me.. As for Ruby she has no idea and I'll keep it that way until she is a little older . She just thinks my hair fell out and its growing back now. Surgery, 8 rounds of chemotherapy and 23 sessions of radiotherapy and I finally finished on my birthday. I would like for people to be aware and see that breast cancer doesn't care what age you are or how fit and healthy you are. I had just finished a 26k run when I found the lump, I was 38 and didn't smoke and drank occasionally so it can happen anybody. I want for people to be able to access a mammogram and not wait until they are over 50. This age needs to change!! It's younger people that are getting it as I've seen myself while having treatment. I am running the dublin city marathon for breast cancer research institute based In Galway. I have had amazing care from the Galway clinic and university and the radiotherapy dept in limerick. I see just what they do every single day. I am so thankful. Please check yourself at least once a month and don't put things off.

I always knew I had found my soul mate and best friend all in one . Ray you were with me every step of the way and we even made jokes about our bauld heads lol. I love you forever. I have the best family and friends I am truly blessed.

Mam thank you for giving me your strength because I know thats where I got it from.

Rach x