Mother and daughter on almost identical cancer journeys urge women to ‘never be complacent’

A MUM and daughter who battled breast cancer just two years apart are urging others to check their bodies and “never be complacent.”

Anne Farrelly (69), from Kiltale and Jenny Browne (45), from Balreask Manor have always shared a special bond, but after going through almost identical cancer journeys they are closer than ever.

Three years ago, much to Anne's shock, she discovered a lump in her left breast with tests later confirming it was cancer. Anne underwent a procedure to remove the lump and two lymph nodes, luckily, the deadly disease was detected early and after 15 rounds of radium treatment, she was on her way to recovery, going on to get the all clear.

Not long after her own brush with the illness, her daughter, Jenny was also diagnosed with breast cancer and family was plunged into fighting mode once more.

Anne said watching her daughter undergo cancer treatment was difficult to process as just a couple years earlier, she'd been in the same boat.

“In 2021, I discovered a lump and I went to my doctor and they sent me to the BreastCheck Unit in Eccles St for a mammogram and I was brought in in less than a month for the operation where they took out a lump and two lymph nodes,” said Anne.

“It was a big shock, there wasn’t breast cancer in my family. You never think it will happen to you.

“I had to wait six weeks to heal after the operation, then they sent away the sample to be examined and decided on the treatment I’d require,” she added.

“I saw oncologists and they said I didn't need to have the chemo but they sent me for radium in Beaumont.”

“Thankfully I got the all clear but I'll be up and down to the hospital for the next five years for mammograms and bone scans just to keep an eye on things.”

Jenny says that she thinks “someone was looking out for her” after a pain in her right breast spurred her on to get it checked out with medics later discovering cancer by chance, instead in her left breast.

The grateful daughter credited her mother's illness for the vital early detection of her disease - she practiced regular breast checks following Anne's diagnosis.

“I had a pain in my breast and it was niggling me for a little while then one morning it woke me up and I thought with mam's history I better go and get this checked,” said Jenny.

“So I went to my GP and was referred to Eccles Street where all in all I had about three mammograms,” she added.

“Even though I had gone to see about a pain in my right side they detected cancer in my left breast. I found out in August and I was in for surgery in September to have two lymph nodes and two lumps removed.

“Once I had the surgery it was a waiting game for the radium. It was an oestrogen-based cancer so radium was the treatment for both mum and I.

Jenny said the news didn't hit her immediately with the sports fan more concerned about how the Irish ladies team were going to fair out that day!

“I am a big soccer fan and Ireland Ladies were playing Canada in the World Cup that day and I just wanted to get back to watch that,” she remembers.

“It wasn't until about a week later that it sank in.

“Even for the most positive person, something like this always takes over.

“I said to mam, we are like a tag team, you had it, it's my turn now to try and lighten the mood!”

During their treatment, Anne and Jenny both availed of the free transport service for cancer patients provided by Meath Hospice Homecare Movement, something they say was a godsend during a stressful time. To say thank you, the duo recently held a coffee morning raising over €6,000 for Meath Hospice Homecare Movement.

“It takes that stress out of will I make it on time, where will I park, do I have enough change to park,” said Jenny

“The volunteer drivers are such lovely people and the chat on the way there and back really puts you at ease,” she added.

Mother and daughter are encouraging women and men to get to know their bodies and check their breasts on a regular basis.

“I was very lucky,” said Jenny. I think someone was looking out for me, I think it must have been my nanny because only I got that pain in my right breast, the cancer in my left breast might not have been found in time,” she added.

“The amount of people who came to the coffee morning who told us they had breast cancer or know someone who has it was something else

“One lady said to me everyone should know what their own breasts feel like. If you make it your priority every week to do a breast check so if there is change you will know.”