In October 2022, 48-year-old Samantha Vaughan from Co Laois contracted covid.

“Post covid I began experiencing breathlessness, I was also dealing with repeated sinus infections. This went on for a number of months but was all put down to long covid. I was put on a few courses of antibiotics and given inhalers, but nothing had worked.

“By May I began feeling pain in my left chest area, it felt as though I had pulled a muscle in my side. I decided to go to my doctor and request a referral for an x-ray.

“I had to call back up to try get my results as 2 weeks had passed, I was told that a lesion had showed up in my right lung but that there was nothing wrong with my left lung. They also said  I would need a CT scan.” Says the mum-of-four.

“I was totally shocked; I was only 47 at the time and felt I wouldn’t be affected by lung cancer as I was a non-smoker.

“They needed to take a biopsy and remove the tumour, they also wanted to check my lymph nodes to see if the cancer had spread. I ended up having half my right lung removed but thankfully my lymph nodes were clear.

Samantha was in hospital for two weeks after her surgery, spending a number of days in ICU.

“After that I was given my final diagnosis. Lung adenocarcinoma, an aggressive form of non-small cell lung cancer. It was stage two, grade three.

“My consultant said no further treatment would be needed as they had successfully removed the tumour, with no lymph nodes affected, the cancer had not spread.

"I was told that I had met the criteria for a current cancer in Cork Hospital,  which would involve me taking a new medication each day for three years with the hopes that it will help protect me in the future from my cancer reoccurring.

“I decided to agree to take part in the trial and I am happy to be involved. So far, it’s going fine, I have been dealing with some abscesses and ulcers in my mouth and nose, spots on the face, upset stomach, but I am managing this. My energy levels are also not the same, and breathing can be difficult sometimes as a result of the surgery.
 

“I travel by car from my home in Co Laois to hospital in Cork. I also attend pain management in a separate Cork hospital. 

“I travel at least once every four weeks to receive targeted treatment, for blood tests, scans or other appointments. Between these appointments, I then also have to go to the other appointments for pain management. 

“Going back and forth to the hospitals in Cork, is about 40-50 Euro for Diesel each time. On top of this, I pay the toll going there and back also.

“Once I get to the hospitals, car parking can range from 8 Euro, up to 24 Euro. This depends on how long my appointments take.

“It can be extremely hard financially, especially when you can't work due to illness. I still haven't been signed off to go back to work, so I am not receiving a salary. 

“Its stressful. Between travelling and the cost of everything, its just not something patients should have to worry about on top of everything else.”

“I decided to reach out to the Cúisle Centre in Portlaoise, which receives funding from the Irish Cancer Society. I have found the counselling, mindfulness and reiki here, really helpful. At first, I thought I wouldn’t need these supports, but I have actually found them invaluable. Especially meeting other people who are going through the same as myself and understand what you are experiencing.”

On advice she would like to share with others, Samantha says “Always follow your instincts. My gut was telling me that something wasn’t right in my body. Sometimes you have to push for further testing, you know your own body best”