Aged just 31, Thamires Lima, a Brazilian student living in Dublin noticed a change in the appearance of the skin in her breast. “I thought this looked a bit strange. Then two weeks later, I noticed a small lump under my armpit. I decided to go to the doctor and they referred me to the breast clinic.”
“I went for the triple assessment, and two weeks later my diagnosis was confirmed. It is hard to describe how I felt when I received that news. It was a very scary time because I am so young, I didn’t expect this to happen. It was a huge shock, and I think at the beginning I was very confused. I am just grateful I went to the doctor and got my referral.”
Following her diagnosis for triple positive breast cancer, Thamires had a decision to make about staying in Ireland or going home to Brazil. “I was really frightened and I had to decide what to do: whether to stay in Ireland for my treatment, or go home to Brazil to be surrounded by family. I had amazing support from my friends and the Brazilian community in Ireland, so with my family also helping from back home, I decided to stay here for my treatment.”
“I was here in Ireland to study English, but unfortunately, I was not allowed to defer my college place."
Living in Ireland on a student visa and only permitted to work part-time, Thamires struggled to cope financially with her cancer diagnosis. “I was here in Ireland to study English, but unfortunately, I was not allowed to defer my college place. I couldn’t continue with my studies because of my diagnosis. I had to give up my place. I also had a small part-time job while studying and I had to give this up too. Because I’m on a student visa, I am not entitled to sick pay or any other financial support. It has been really difficult to cope, and I wouldn’t be able to get through it all without the help of my community.”
“I am a younger person and someday I want to have a family, so it was important for me to do the egg retrieval and freeze my eggs before the treatment began."
Thamires’ religious faith has helped her throughout her diagnosis. “My church community has been an amazing help to me throughout my diagnosis. I couldn’t have gotten through without their support – they helped me with food, with money and other supports. There is also an online community of people living in Ireland from Brazil going through cancer. We have a WhatsApp Group, Facebook Page and Instagram, ‘Amor Simples de Doar’ and the translation in English means ‘Simple Love to Give’ – we are there to help, to encourage each other, to support each other to get to our appointments.”
Before her treatment began, Thamires decided to freeze her eggs. “I am a younger person and someday I want to have a family, so it was important for me to do the egg retrieval and freeze my eggs before the treatment began. I started my six sessions of chemotherapy in September, and this finished in December. There was a recovery period and then I had my surgery at the end of February 2024 and then after another break, I completed my radiotherapy. All of my treatment finished in July. The radiotherapy was very tough on my skin, but I am getting better now.”
"I would never have thought I would get breast cancer at 31."
Throughout her cancer experience, Thamires availed of a range of supports. “The Irish Cancer Society was very helpful. I was able to get the Travel2Care grant which helped me get to my appointments. I also got their cancer support pack which gave me some important cancer information leaflets. My mother also helped from back home. She organised for me to speak to a psychologist for some counselling – she was in Brazil and this was all done online through Portuguese. The hospital staff have also been very helpful; I am supported by the medical social worker because my visa situation is complex. I want to thank all of my church community, the Brazilian community in Ireland and specially one friend of mine, Raphaela, has been amazing. She moved in with me to take care of me, and you need this type of support when going through cancer.”
Thamires is sharing her story to raise awareness of breast cancer, especially among younger women. “My faith helped me through my cancer experience. When things were really tough, God gave me the strength to keep going. I would never have thought I would get breast cancer at 31. I noticed a change in my breast and took action. It is so important young women are aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and that we examine ourselves regularly for any changes. We need to pay attention to our bodies, and that is my message to anybody reading this story.”
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.
