Survivor’s Cancer Advice: Don’t Be Afraid
Reported November 22, 2007
Women should stop being afraid and get themselves diagnosed for breast caner, said a survivor of the disease from Ireland who was in Dubai to take part in the first UAE initiative of the “Global Connection Ribbon” to battle breast cancer.
“Global Connection Ribbon” is a worldwide campaign to combat breast cancer started by American cosmetic company Avon where two survivors visit each others countries to raise awareness about the disease.
Catherine Nolan, 57, a mother of five, from Cork, Ireland, never tires of sharing her story about finding peace and hope in the midst of struggle against cancer and other trials. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, two years after her husband died.
Now a survivor and a breast cancer ambassador for Avon, she spoke exclusively to XPRESS on why she is globe-trotting to get her message across.
Recollecting her initial reaction when she learnt that she had cancer, Nolan said: “My husband had died two years before I was diagnosed with cancer. I was the only breadwinner for my children and I was very afraid.”
It took Nolan 10 months to get her mammogram results as the public health sector in Ireland was overburdened.
During that time, her 17-year-old son also lost sight in one eye. Nolan said the battle would have been easier if her country had support groups and better-equipped oncology centres.
