Aged just 39, Katie Browne, originally from Kerry but now living in Kildare, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023. “My mom had breast cancer 18 years ago, and I think since then, I was very aware of the risk factor of family history. I would have checked myself regularly even from that age in my early 20s. I remember living with roommates and we would all be encouraging each other to check yourself in the shower on a regular basis, but then life moves on. The more distance from her cancer experience, the more it went out of my head.”
"I was lucky my cancer was found early; it was small and very treatable."
Then, in March 2023, her aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer and just two months later, her GP noticed a lump during a routine examination. “I hadn’t noticed anything, but my GP found a small lump and referred me to the breast clinic. After the triple assessment they gave me an indication that something was wrong, so when I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks later, although it was a huge shock, I was prepared for it in one way. I was lucky my cancer was found early; it was small and very treatable. So, there were a lot of positives in that. I am delighted to say, all three of us are the other side of our cancer experiences.”
“Within two weeks I had a treatment plan in place. I had lumpectomy surgery in June, then I had 4 rounds of chemo and completed my radiotherapy. I was drained and very tired from the treatment, but generally speaking, it went okay. I visited the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Centre in James’s, and they invited me to a session on what to expect about breast cancer and the effects of treatment. It was lovely to meet others that day going through breast cancer, and the conversations I had with others were really helpful. I also used the Irish Cancer Society’s Travel2Care grant, and this offered me financial support to get me to and from my treatment appointments. This was a great help when you needed a bit of a financial lift.”
"People need to be aware of the impact on their fertility and they need to be informed of their options. I haven’t had children yet, so I really wanted to explore my options."
Upon her diagnosis, one of the concerns Katie had was how her treatment could affect her fertility. “Looking back, I think this is definitely one of the aspects of my cancer journey I think we need to be more comfortable talking about. Especially when we hear of people being diagnosed with cancer at a younger age. People need to be aware of the impact on their fertility and they need to be informed of their options. I haven’t had children yet, so I really wanted to explore my options. I was referred for fertility treatment after surgery and had 2 rounds of egg retrieval. I was glad I could do that for myself, especially when I found out I would need chemotherapy. I think people don’t realise there is a Government-funded support out there for assisted reproductive services that cancer survivors can benefit from, and that is something I would like to highlight. I’m conscious that I can’t find anyone who has had the same cancer as me who has gone through fertility treatment and had their children afterwards so if there is someone out there who reads my story and it helps them, then I’m glad I did it.”
"Yes, it’s difficult and some days are hard, but you do come out the other end of it. You become very resilient, but I can’t stress enough how important it is not to go through it on your own."
Reflecting on her cancer experience, Katie says “hearing the words ‘it’s cancer’ can be very daunting to begin with. You think it’s going to be really awful, and it is—you have dig really deep, but you do get through it. Yes, it’s difficult and some days are hard, but you do come out the other end of it. You become very resilient, but I can’t stress enough how important it is not to go through it on your own. It doesn’t come easy for some people but take the leap and reach out for support. There is so much support available, and people really do want to help.”
Katie has always been into her health and fitness, and she recently ran a half-marathon raising over €4,500 for the Irish Cancer Society. “A couple of weeks after my chemo, I was back in the gym, and I got up to running a kilometre on the treadmill and gradually started to increase it. Through an organisation called ‘Move Against Cancer’, I found my local ‘5k You Way’ which is all about encouraging people going through or after cancer to stay active and walk, jog or run 5k with a group of people who have been through what you have. I was incredibly proud to run the half-marathon and raise the four and a half grand – the way I look at it is, I was able to benefit from that Travel2Care fund when I needed it, and I was so glad to be able to raise money to ensure other people can access the help they might need.”
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're calling on the Irish public to host a Big Pink Breakfast or make a donation to support vital services and supports for breast cancer patients and their families. For more information, visit: Big Pink Breakfast | Irish Cancer Society
For any cancer-related queries, please get in touch with our Cancer Nurses through the Irish Cancer Society Support Line at freephone 1800 200 700 or by email at supportline@irishcancer.ie.
