MOVING FORWARD Ballina breast-cancer survivor Edel Gallagher out training for the upcoming Giro de Baile.
Ciara Galvin
ON a crisp October morning Edel Gallagher made her way to Sligo hospital after finding a lump on her breast. Despite assurances from a consultant, Edel went ahead with a mammogram, which confirmed her worst fears. A lumpectomy was to follow, and the removal of cancerous lymph nodes.
“At that stage I was very frightened. I had to have more tests to see if the cancer had moved to my blood, but it hadn’t gone any further,” explains Edel.
Six years on, Edel answers the phone to The Mayo News while out for a cycle around her native Ballina, and her enthusiasm is palpable.
“I was never into sport, I took everything for granted … When you get a second chance you need to take it.”
The cycling enthusiast now takes to the two wheels twice or three times a week, and says the sport has helped her immensely since she beat her cancer.
Vital support
Edel speaks extremely highly of the treatment she received from medical professionals and the support she got from the Irish Cancer Society, the charity she is currently fundraising for by taking part in the Giro de Baile (The North Mayo Sportive) this Sunday. Accompanying her in the family cycle in this year’s event is her daughter Zoe, who is flying over from London for the occasion.
Every year, around 2,800 women in Ireland are diagnosed with breast cancer. The Irish Cancer Society is the leading independent voluntary funder of cancer research in Ireland. It provides a range of support services, including Night Nursing to care for seriously ill cancer patients in their homes and a Volunteer Driver Service, which brings patients to their chemotherapy appointments.
“You hear negatives about the HSE and hospitals,” she says, “but from the moment I went into the system, everything ran smoothly, and everyone I dealt with couldn’t have been more helpful.”
The 47 year old reveals that the moment she had to fight cancer her life changed forever. But this straight-talking Ballina woman doesn’t see cancer as the worst thing that ever happened to her. Rather, she chooses to refer to it was ‘a wake up call’. Supported by her ‘rock’, her mother Mary Murphy, and her children, Tony, Zoe and Rory, Edel is now a fitness fanatic, and she tries not to dwell on the past.
Speaking candidly about the experience, Edel says its something that nobody really understands.
“Going through chemo and radiotherapy you lose your hair, your confidence. I was on steroids and bloated from them. At one stage I looked in the mirror, and I didn’t recognise myself, which was strange.”
Switching gears
But that’s all behind her now. Since officially getting the all clear last year, there’s been no stopping the Mayo Volunteer Centre worker. “I decided to join the local cycling club, do adventure races and join the tri club. I got busy living and I try to get the family involved,” says Edel, adding that her son Rory has taken up mountain biking, and its given him a new ‘lease of life’ too.
The mother of three puts her positive attitude down to her hobby, saying the sport has really helped her recover.
“I’m not on any medication. Fresh air is just unreal. You get out of it [cycling] what you put into it, and for me I get more out of it than I put in. The headspace you get is great,” she says.
With infectious good humour, she says she now has her sights firmly set on continuing to grab her ‘second chance’ with both hands and living life to the full. “I feel it’s in the past. I don’t look back. It’s so common now, every home has been touched by cancer, my story isn’t unique. We have to be positive all the time.”
Up for the challenge?
Looking forward to the upcoming cycle, Edel is full of praise for the organisers of the event, which she says is a lovely way of linking up with other clubs.
The Giro de Baile starts at Ballycastle Village this Sunday, and there is a choice of three routes which take in the Wild Atlantic Way.
If you are interested in taking part in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, contact community fundraiser Lorraine for your sponsorship card at 087 7936499 or ltoner@irishcancer.ie.
