Mayo woman raising awareness while putting up a brave battle

AHEAD of The Very Pink Run which takes place in September, to raise funds for reasearch by Breast Cancer Ireland, The Mayo News had the chance to talk to Kilmovee woman Anne Hopkins. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. Anne has been appointed patient ambassador for the Very Pink Run events.

David Rischke: Anne, you will be patient ambassador at the The Very Pink Run, how are you looking forward to the event?

Anne Hopkins: My daughter did it with me each year since I started. We had two years doing the Pink Run in Leopardstown, drenched to the skin. We did 10k the first year. The next year the rain was so heavy and we were so wet and cold we opted out after 5k. We still took part and promoted it. All my children have fundraised and supported Breast Cancer Ireland.

DR: Why is it important, that these fundraiser events are organised, no matter if it’s lashing rain?

AH: “Well, for me, it’s what’s keeping us going. Without that research, the drugs I’m on, I wouldn’t be there, and they’re what’s keeping me going. When I was asked to be an ambassador, I felt privileged. If I can share my story and it helps anyone, listening to people’s stories helped me in the early days, with a positive outlook and things working out. Promoting Breast Cancer Ireland and helping to fund more research to save more lives has to be worth it.

DR: When did you get your diagnosis for breast cancer?

AH: Just after Covid had started—end of May 2020—so just over five years ago.

DR: A very delicate time to get that diagnosis.

AH: It was an awful time because of Covid. I was 65 then. It was literally overnight: I went to bed, felt uncomfortable, lay on my side, and thought, “I can feel a lump.” The next morning I went, and it spiralled, tests, and suddenly it was metastatic breast cancer. It was frightening because it was Covid, the time you want family around you and hugs, everyone had to avoid everyone. I was going into hospitals people were afraid of, but I needed to go.

DR: What helped you during the last five years to stay the course?

AH: Walking became a big thing. I walk every day. I downloaded audiobooks and listened while walking, especially early on when you couldn’t walk with others. I have very close friends and family, and I could talk to them. It was important to talk, not bottle it up or pretend it wasn’t happening, to be open and talk about my fears. I love reading and knitting, and I love baking. On good days I kept busy. Staying positive and busy was important.

DR: I suppose your husband helped as well?

AH: He found it very hard but was hugely supportive. He’s like a best friend, taxi driver, and carer all rolled into one—by my side the whole time. Without him, I couldn’t have done it. I have four lovely children, grandchildren, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law who are really supportive and have stood by me the whole time.

DR: After five years, how is your situation at the moment?

AH: I’m back on chemotherapy. I had a little setback. I’ve been on treatment for the entire period. From the beginning I was told I would be a “living with cancer” patient. I had no symptoms at first, I was fit and well, and it came out of nowhere, but it had already spread to my liver. The plan was chemotherapy for a time, then a targeted therapy, a daily hormone tablet, that would hopefully keep the cancer under control, but I’d always live with cancer. That worked for the last five years.

DR: But then what happened?

AH: Earlier this year, unfortunately, some lymph nodes had escaped and started doing damage. I had to go on a new targeted chemotherapy, which is only out for four years. I’m lucky I can get that every two weeks. I had my first a couple of weeks ago and it seems to be keeping the cancer down. It’s working, so I have to keep hoping and keep going.

DR: How do you look into the future at the moment?

AH: I won’t pretend I didn’t get scared again in March when I had to have a biopsy to see what damage had been done, and was told I had to go on strong chemotherapy because these lymph nodes were floating around. That frightened me, back on chemotherapy five years later, and this one was going to be every three weeks indefinitely. The first week was very hard and I struggled, but then I thought I have to get on top of this, get my positivity back.

DR: From what you know, are we paying enough attention to cancer, and breast cancer in particular, or has it fallen under the radar?

AH: There’s a lot of awareness. Breast Cancer Ireland does so much to promote it. There are so many charities. My sister died last year. There are so many charities that it’s hard to ask friends to support different ones, they all have their own, but they know I’m involved. The first year after the diagnosis, my son, who works as a trader, and his friends all made a generous donation to Breast Cancer Ireland and presented it to me at Christmas. It was so lovely. For me, Breast Cancer Ireland is what’s keeping me alive, drugs I started five years ago wouldn’t have been available 20 years ago. The one I’m on now has only been available for the last four years. It’s another lifeline.

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Registration for this year’s event is now open at www.verypinkrun.com. The dates and venues for this year’s events are September 6 (Dublin); September 7 (Cork); September 14 (Kilkenny).

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