In May 2019, scientist Siobhan Gaynor from Castleknock, Dublin noticed that her right nipple had started to pull inwards. She went to her GP and was referred on to her local breast clinic. Following a triple assessment, Siobhan received a diagnosis of ER+ Her2- breast cancer.
“When I received my diagnosis, I actually felt I was able to accept it relatively quickly. My work focused on medicines research & development, so I knew the incidence and risk factors and never took it personally, it was a random occurrence full stop. I very much looked upon it as a project (unpleasant one!) and decided to take it week by week.” Says the mum-of-three.
Siobhan was booked in for surgery, a wide local excision with sentinel node biopsy. This was followed by four courses of chemotherapy and twenty courses of radiotherapy, finishing up active treatment on Christmas Eve, 2019.
“I was then given hormone therapy, but once I finished up my active treatment, I was more than happy to move on with a renewed sense of how precious life is.”
However a few months later, in the summer of 2020, Siobhan stated to experience fatigue and back pain.
“My GP referred me for a scan and I was later diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in Oct 2020-during the pandemic.”
"For me, coping with my secondary diagnosis, there were clear gaps in areas such as access to information and emotional support. It is vital these real-life experiences are recorded."
“My metastatic cancer diagnosis was a completely different animal and it forced changes to my life that were difficult, but necessary. I decided after 31 years of working full time, I needed to step off the career ladder.
“I am now doing part-time consultancy work as well as getting involved in lots of interesting voluntary work with various Irish cancer groups. I am also planning a few trips and making memories with family and friends, I consider myself semi-retired at this point.
Siobhan spent over 10 years working on clinical trials all over the world, so following her own diagnosis, decided to become involved in clinical trials here in Ireland, as well as numerous research projects.
The Irish Cancer Society has invested millions of euro into clinical trials since 2012. Clinical trials offer hope for a better future for patients by bringing amazing progress in medical treatments. The Irish Cancer Society is proud to further our commitment to Cancer Trials Ireland by providing €3 million of further funding over the next three years. This funding will help bring and start such trials right here in Ireland.
Siobhan is currently heavily involved with a survey focused on patient experience, the first Irish patient-led research to undergo rigorous ethics and scientific approval, backed by medical experts.
“For me, coping with my secondary diagnosis, there were clear gaps in areas such as access to information and emotional support. It is vital these real-life experiences are recorded."
The survey includes questions on finances, fertility, sexuality and palliative care. She hopes the findings can help “develop new health and psychosocial services and resources”.
Fore more information on the survey, visit: https://www.cancertrials.ie/metastatic-breast-cancer-survey/
