In July 2023, Mariana, who moved to Dublin eight years ago from Mexico, noticed a lump on her breast when she got out of the shower. “I had no symptoms at all, but one day, I got out of the shower and just in the mirror, I spotted something. There was a lump on my breast and although I wasn’t concerned, I wanted to get it checked out. I thought maybe it was a cyst. I called my GP and after seeing me she referred me to the breast clinic in St. James’s. Within three weeks, I went for a consultation where they talked me through the triple assessment, and they told me it would be a further two weeks. But I got a call four days later for a cancellation appointment.”
"I was devastated to get the news and your mind immediately goes to the worst place."
Mariana works for a pharmaceutical company and specifically works in clinical trials related to cancer. “Because of my work, I know cancer. Even though I was going for the mammogram and the ultrasound, I still wasn’t worried but when they referred me for a biopsy, that’s when I knew. I was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. In the moment you hear those words, it is so hard to describe. I was devastated to get the news and your mind immediately goes to the worst place. Am I going to die, what about my children, how am I going to cope with the treatment? But pretty soon after that, I think my outlook changed. I know from my job that breast cancer and cancer in general is not the death sentence it once was. I knew it would be tough, but I was going to be okay.”
Within two weeks of her diagnosis, Mariana was straight into active treatment. “I had eight rounds of chemotherapy. I had all the normal side effects as expected, but I got through it, and I have to thank the medical team who always closely monitored me and checked in with how I was doing throughout my chemo. As we moved into 2024, I required three surgeries. We tried two lumpectomies but both times the cancer remained, so in the end, I went for a mastectomy. I needed some time to recover from my three surgeries and then I went for my radiation therapy. I had 15 rounds, and I just finished that in July of this year.”
"I was very upfront with them and told them ‘mommy’s sick’. I told them I was going to get better, but that it would take a little time."
Looking back, Mariana says the hardest part of her cancer experience was telling her children, two boys aged 9 and 5. “It sounds crazy, but when I was preparing to tell them the news, I said to myself ‘at least it’s me that's sick and not one of them’. I was very upfront with them and told them ‘mommy’s sick’. I told them I was going to get better, but that it would take a little time. Before my chemotherapy, I shaved my head and I decided to donate my hair. I wanted to take that little bit of control of the situation instead of waiting for it to fall out. When that happened, my children noticed and just laughed at me and said I looked funny. But I remember when it started to grow back, they were excited – it was a sign I was getting better.”
Reflecting on her cancer experience, Mariana says staying positive and staying active helped her recovery. “We know that so many people are unfortunately going to get cancer, and this is scary, but I think it is also important to be positive about catching cancer early and getting on the treatment pathway as soon as possible. We had to cancel our family summer holidays to start treatment, but I am glad I did it, cancer doesn’t wait. From my work, I knew a lot about cancer, cancer survival and cancer treatment, but knowing about it and going through it yourself is different. But my knowledge did help me during my consultations with my doctors. I knew what questions to ask, I felt prepared and I think doing your research and reading trusted sources of information is important for any person going through cancer.”
“I’m not going to sit here and say it wasn’t difficult. I had some of the lowest days of my life during treatment. But with my husband, my mother, my friends, my colleagues, with the people around me, I got through it. And my message to anybody else facing breast cancer is to take it one day at a time, one foot in front of the other, and you will be stronger and more resilient than you ever knew you could be.”
"It is so important, especially for younger women, to self-examine and go to the doctor if you notice something, I wouldn’t being here if it wasn’t for the early detection."
In September, Mariana will run the Dublin half marathon raising money for the Irish Cancer Society. “I have always been an active person and I felt at my healthiest before my cancer. I wasn’t the typical cancer candidate – I was healthy, I had no family history, I was young, but cancer doesn’t care. It is so important, especially for younger women, to self-examine and go to the doctor if you notice something, I wouldn’t being here if it wasn’t for the early detection. In Ireland, under 50s don’t get screening so we have to check ourselves and do it regularly. On the 22nd of September, I am doing the Dublin half marathon and when I saw the date, I knew I had to do it. This was the exact day one year earlier when my chemotherapy began and now, I am running a half marathon. I think this is proof that whatever way your life was before your cancer, you can get back to it after cancer. I am doing it for me, but also for the Irish Cancer Society because I know how much support they give to people and families going through cancer. I had my family, my friends, but other people are on their own or need extra support, and nobody should go through cancer alone.”
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.
