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Testicular Cancer: ‘I put the swelling down to too much cycling – turns out it was more serious’

As a fit and active man in his thirties, at the end of 2020, when Thomas Butler noticed a swelling in one of his testicles, he initially put it down to too much cycling and thought that a little time out of the saddle would see the problem disappear.

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Skin cancer: ‘It would often start as a patch of dry skin or a little bump – but unlike other blemishes, these wouldn’t go away’

With over 13,000 new cases diagnosed each year in Ireland, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in this country and the National Cancer Registry of Ireland expects the current figures to double in the next two decades.

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Men’s Health: ‘It’s easy to ignore a health problem and hope it will go away – but that is no way forward’

More than 13,100 men and 11,600 women are diagnosed with invasive cancer each year in Ireland, but women are more likely to seek medical advice sooner than their male counterparts.

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COPD: ‘I had lost the will to live but the surgery has given me my independence back’

Since the onset of Covid-19, we are all more than aware of chest infections. But while we may have all experienced coughs and breathing issues of varying severity, it is estimated that at least 400,000 people in Ireland live with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) — and almost half of that figure have moderate or severe symptoms.

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‘The benefits of running helped me bounce back from heart surgery at 45’

In July 2018, Karen Ward was feeling physically on top of the world. The mother-of-two had completed the Vhi Women’s Mini-Marathon the previous month and was running and walking as much as possible. Then she went for a routine check-up.

A year after starting cancer care, Patricia is cycling 670km

Just six months ago, Patricia Rowley underwent a double mastectomy following months of treatment.

A year after starting cancer care, Patricia is cycling 670km

Just six months ago, Patricia Rowley underwent a double mastectomy following months of treatment.

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‘Once I am on my bike I feel 17 again’ – 69-year-old grandmother Jacqui Mates on her life-long love of motorbikes

We’re all guilty, to some extent of stereotyping — tell us someone’s age, gender, or career and, without thinking, some form of preconceived idea will pop into our minds. So, it is hardly surprising that Jacqui Mates, who will soon turn 70, causes a few heads to turn when she reveals that she’s a biker.

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Migraine: ‘My whole world revolved around pain, illness and medication — the injection has been a game changer’

For most of us, headaches are something we have to contend with from time to time and while they vary in severity and frequency, the majority of people would say that their lives are not dominated by a debilitating pain in their head.

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‘I’ve had dozens of moles removed. If I had waited, I’d be dead,’ says survivor of skin cancer

Liz Yeates spent her childhood summers outdoors without sun cream. She frequently got burned, and as she got older she used sunbeds and was a self-confessed sun worshipper when abroad.

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‘I had a cyst the size of a football’ – ovarian cancer survivor warns about the signs women shouldn’t ignore

Ireland has one of the lowest survival rates for ovarian cancer in Europe and with 400 women diagnosed with the disease each year in this country, there are almost 300 deaths associated with this type of cancer annually – making it is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in women in Ireland.

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‘I stooped to pick up a sliotar and heard a cracking in my back – four years later I was having surgery to avoid paralysis’

When she was 18 years old, Emma O’Connor developed an unexpected injury which resulted in a visit to hospital and a week of medication, after which she thought the episode was over. But last year, the pain resurfaced and she soon discovered that what she thought was a minor ailment was in fact masking something a lot more serious.

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‘I was shocked to find out I had oesophageal cancer – if you have difficulty swallowing, go see your GP’

Ireland has one of the highest rates of oesophageal cancer in Europe with up to 500 people diagnosed each year across the country. While the symptoms can be similar to a number of other conditions, early detection is crucial to treating it successfully. Every year the Oesophageal Cancer Fund (OCF) holds Lollipop Day, a fundraising event designed to both raise awareness about this difficult type of cancer and vital funds for cancer research.

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‘The Covid test was negative but, two years on, I have all the symptoms of long Covid’

It is estimated that 380,000 people in Ireland have asthma — that is one in 13 of the population with varying degrees of breathing issues.

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‘My baby daughter needed a new liver to survive – so I gave her part of mine’

At any one time in Ireland, there are up to 600 people on the active waiting list for organ transplants and as Organ Donor Awareness Week runs until April 30, the Irish Kidney Association, in association with the HSE’s Organ Donation Transplant Ireland, hope to make people aware of the importance of organ donation and how it can save lives.

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Is the era of the big Communion over?

Every year, religious, education and social calendars in Ireland are punctuated by the annual turn out of little girls in pristine white dresses and boys looking dapper in sharp suits and polished shoes.

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‘I am 30 years old and I have had open heart surgery twice’

New parents are often anxious and frustrated by the cries of their newborn. But while, for the most part, the tears can be relieved with a cuddle, a feed or change of position, Rachel Murray’s parents discovered that the root of her sadness was an altogether more serious issue — and at six months old, she underwent open heart surgery.

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‘My maternal instinct told me something wasn’t right – but I didn’t expect brain cancer’

No matter how mild the symptoms, every parent knows what it feels like to helplessly watch when their child is ill. If possible, we would swap places and endure the fluctuating temperatures, tummy bugs or even innocent coughs and sneezes, so they don’t have to go through it themselves.

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Neurodiversity in focus: ‘If it wasn’t for people who are wired differently, could you imagine what the world would be like?’

Gillian Fagan

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Breast cancer: ‘The pressure to remain positive was a burden. Putting on a brave face is exhausting’

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting females in Ireland, with over 3,350 women (and almost 30 men) diagnosed here each year.

‘Having cancer made me realise I can do anything and get through anything’ – How cancer affected five people at different life stages

Éamonn Redmond is 27 and lives in Dublin with his partner, Damien. He works as a social worker with Tusla. He first noticed something strange in November 2020 when an itch on his arm spread throughout his body and he also began losing weight. Initially, he put it down to stress, but a few months later he visited his GP, who referred him for tests. In February 2021, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

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‘I was told I had thyroid cancer just days after my son was born’

As every new mother knows, the days and weeks after your baby is born can be exhausting as your body recovers from childbirth, your sleep pattern is disrupted, and you try to adjust to your new parenting role, both mentally and physically.

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Testicular cancer: Don’t ignore the signs as I did – cancer caught early can be nothing to fear

Aches and pains are part and parcel of middle age, particularly when it comes to overdoing it on the exercise front. So when Peter Keating began to experience some extreme pain following an intensive workout, he assumed he had just pushed himself too far.

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World Book Day: Irish writers on the books that shaped them

There is nothing quite like the bedtime story — those cosy moments at the end of the day when time stands still while both reader and listener are transported to another realm.

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‘I know that if I had still been smoking, I would not be here today’

Thousands of people will have made a resolution to give up smoking at the start of the year. But as the weeks have gone on, so many great intentions will have fallen by the wayside. However, with Lent starting on March 2, many will be thinking of trying again to cut out the cigarettes once and for all.

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I was so tired all the time and couldn’t figure out why – it was type 2 diabetes

Almost 270,000 people in Ireland are currently living with diabetes, with the vast majority (234,398) having Type 2 – and according to a recent Healthy Ireland survey, it is expected that this figure will increase by 60pc over the next 10 to 15 years.

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I was bullied as a child for being overweight. I’m determined to do everything I can to help others

Achieving your target weight isn’t always easy, but having been overweight for most of his life, Belfast man Conor Loughlin has shown that a strong will, coupled with exercise and a reduced calorie intake, can bring amazing results.

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MND: ‘I will never forget the look on Brian’s face when the doctor asked if he had heard of motor neurone disease’

The past two years have been difficult for everyone with Covid-19 restrictions impinging on our everyday lives and many people have became sick or even died due to the disease. But in addition to the hardship caused by the pandemic, countless people have also been dealing with other illnesses and bereavements which have been made more traumatic due to the ongoing crisis.

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World Cancer Day: Dad-of-three Seamus on surviving lung cancer and becoming a ‘patient voice’

Six years ago, Seamus Cotter noticed a swelling in his legs that spread to his arm. He went to see his GP, who referred him for tests.

‘As the Covid crisis eases, people must switch on to cancer risks’

Covid-19 has caused patients to postpone doctors’ visits, according to research from the Irish Cancer Society (ICS), while screening programmes were paused and acute services were reconfigured to reduce footfall in hospitals.