I feel I was one of the lucky ones. I didn’t have any symptoms of pancreatic cancer. I went to the doctor with headaches. And she insisted I get checked and make a day free to go for tests.

An X-ray showed up something in my stomach, so I was referred for a CT scan and on to a pancreatic specialist for a biopsy. This showed pre-cancer cells on the head of my pancreas. By the time I went for surgery in September 2017, it was cancer.

I kept working on and off throughout my treatment and this helped me a lot. Being able to get out and about made a difference.

People often asked how I was so positive, but what else could I do? Sitting at the fire crying wasn’t me. I dealt with it by getting out on the days when I could, and working on the phone or by email when I was able.

I have three children, Cian (17), Molly (16) and Enya (15), and I suppose I would have shielded them from it as much as possible.

I found the Irish Cancer Society’s Volunteer Driver Service helped ease the burden of organising transport to treatment.

6 months is a long time to be expecting family and friends to provide lifts.

With the service, I didn’t have to worry about how to get to treatment, so it took a lot of pressure off me. The drivers understood the scenario. If you wanted to talk they let you, if you didn’t they understood.