Your Stories
People are at the heart of everything we do - people with cancer and their loved ones; people who volunteer; people who fundraise; people who deliver our vital cancer services.
Learn more about the people we support and our supporters.
We Won't Stop!
The Irish Cancer Society is a community determined to transform cancer as we know it in Ireland. We are pushing for a future where fewer people get cancer, 10 in 10 people survive it and everyone who needs it has access to the best treatment and care.
To achieve this, quite simply, We. Won’t. Stop.
"I won't stop amplifying the voice of cancer patients and their families"
"I won't stop doing the job I love"
"My favourite part of my work is the impact you make."
“Being a unicorn for the day is the least I can do”
“We need to talk a lot more. Even my own circle now are so much more aware of prostate cancer, which is brilliant."
“We won’t stop talking about cancer.”
"I won’t stop caring"
“I have spent the past three years in physical rehabilitation, I am getting stronger each day."
"I know that we are still here, so in that way, we are lucky.”
"I won't stop supporting patients and their families"
"I won’t stop involving patients in my research"
"I will not stop providing support to people affected by cancer"
"I won’t stop volunteering"
"I won’t stop using my voice to spread the message that lung cancer and clinical trials is an area of priority for investment, focus and innovation."
“I won’t stop caring or having empathy or listening to the stories of others I meet that are on the cancer road after me."
“I was in with my GP getting blood tests in May 2022 and it transpired that my PSA had risen."
"Many people live long lives with stage 4. It’s just a matter of constant scans and scopes and that’s how I’m looking at it.”
I found that keeping busy helped me, and just getting back to my own life”
"Why is this happening to me? You just question everything. But I accepted what I had, and that treatment was the only way forward.”
"I was just so shocked, and I could barely say the words ‘breast cancer’ when I came home to tell my husband”
“My counsellor was a lifeline. I had a meeting with her once a week and I could go over everything."
“It’s so important to communicate with your spouse, your immediate family, people you trust."
“It was through a routine mammogram with BreastCheck and I had no symptoms at all; it was a complete surprise."
People living with and beyond cancer
Stories of cancer patients and survivors
"I had gotten my lips filled two weeks before I went on holiday, so that was blamed on my face swelling up."
"We got the news that the treatment was unsuccessful and nothing further could be done and from then on, we got the palliative team in."
"I remember receiving the news. My dad was with me and I couldn't believe it."
“It could have been a lot worse for me and I’m so grateful to be able to tell my story to raise awareness of bowel cancer”
"I think my doctors were surprised by my attitude. They said I was unique"
"I have learnt that each day is a blessing.”
"My jaw just hit the floor. I really wasn’t expecting a stomach cancer diagnosis, and I was in a bit of a blur"
"Nobody really talks about the financial impact of cancer, and I have found that part really challenging."
“Now that I know the signs and symptoms of this cancer, I know the importance of raising awareness and that’s why I want to share my story”
"If you are like me and living with cancer, try live your life as normal as you can.."
‘The Daffodil Centre were brilliant’Geraldine CroninGeraldine
“I know my cancer diagnosis will make me a better oncology nurse, I have now been on both sides of this experience.”marianne
‘My cancer experience inspired me to chase my acting dream’
"It’s important not to be ashamed if you have to revisit any feelings you have about your diagnosis, you are left with a lot to process"
Men's Health
Highlighting stories to do with Men's Health
‘I was amazed with the care I got’
‘Staying active was a huge part of my recovery’
Testicular cancer - ‘It changed my attitude to life entirely’
Prostate cancer - ‘I’ve opened up to my friends because I don’t want them to have the same issue’
Jamie Power – 'It was tough trying to shield my four children from the madness of treatment and stay on an even keel'
David Wilkins – 'Counselling has had a hugely calming effect on me'David Wilkins
Michael Moran – ‘Testicular cancer has become very treatable and curable’
Wicklow-based cameraman and photographer Stu Teehan was sitting in his chair in the office one day in 2019 when he noticed what he describes as a “strange feeling” in his testicle.
Irish Cancer Society volunteers
Thousands of volunteers nationwide donate their time to support the Society and help cancer patients
'I was delighted that I could, in a very practical way, support the Irish Cancer Society,' says Volunteer Driver John.
Fran is a cancer survivor and Survivor Support Volunteer - ‘You learn how to listen; how to help’
Niamh Fortune is one of our inspiring patient advocates, helping in the decision on what research we should fund.Niamh Fortune
Parent peer support volunteer Laura shares her family's experience of childhood cancer Laura Cullinan and Isobel
"It’s only two days a month of a commitment, but the reward you get is fantastic" - Volunteer Driver Katy
"It’s the commitment that people have which makes it special" - Daffodil Day volunteer Shannon Daunt
Cancer survivor Caitríona helps by volunteering for the Irish Cancer Society’s Survivor Support service
Meet Dora Bracken, who has been volunteering for the Irish Cancer Society's Daffodil Day for over 30 years
Irish Cancer Society fundraisers
The Irish Cancer Society's services and cancer research rely on donations and fundraising from generous members of the public
St. James’s Covid-19 ward nurses taking on another big challenge this August
Meath woman Ann Marie Grall aims to walk 500 miles for the 10th anniversary of the Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge.Ann Marie Grall
Longford man Tom’s charity single goes straight to number one in the Irish iTune charts
Friends Dee Newell & Dee O'Raw created the Deeswimber challenge to get people swimming in December
Following her Mam's cancer diagnosis, Aoife from Athlone started a baking fundraiser to give back to the Irish Cancer Society
Darren Campbell is thru-hiking through the USA's Continental Divide Trail in memory of his cousin Eugene.
Henry has taken on the challenge to be the first person to finswim around Ireland, and is raising funds to for the Irish Cancer Society.Henry O'Donnell boat
Meet the groups and individuals who have been shaving and dying their hair to raise money for cancer servicesAishling Delaney
Irish Cancer Society researchers
Thanks to your support, the Irish Cancer Society funds over 100 cancer researchers across Ireland.
“Immunotherapy has changed the face of lung cancer treatment, and is now being given for earlier stage lung cancers, with long term benefit in some cases. So the dream is being realised.”Jarushka Naidoo
“When we were engaging with patients with younger children, they would say to us ‘it’s the hair loss that makes my children know I’m sick’. That really struck a chord with us.”
“Although it’s scary to find out that you have a genetic cancer risk, it is empowering because if you can do something about that risk and prevent the cancer or catch it early that is so valuable.”
Blood cancer researcher Graeme Sullivan was recently awarded a three-year Translational Research Fellowship by the Irish Cancer Society.
Cancer research is often regarded as a complex topic, but the overall aim of Sophie Mulcahy Symmons’ cervical cancer research project couldn’t be simpler.Sophie Mulcahy Symmons
‘It’s an honour to do something you love every day’Catriona Dowling
Endometrial cancer researcher Martin Brennan – ‘I want to bring about positive change for the cancer community’.Martin Brennan
Lymphoma researcher Dr Daniel Angelov – ‘I saw these patients get sicker & sicker. I wanted to find something to help them’
Read more
Volunteer to share your cancer story
For more information
Phone
1800 200 700
