Limerick man warns ‘anybody can get lung cancer’
Tim Egan shares his story to raise awareness
LUNG CANCER is the leading cause of cancer death in Ireland, killing around 1,900 people each year.
One Limerick man who was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 66 is sharing his story in the hope of encouraging others to get any persistent coughs checked out.
Tim Egan, from the South Circular Road, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020 after he presented to his GP with a persistent cough.
Now living in Dooradoyle, he says his diagnosis four years ago was “quite serious and quite frightening” and that it was during the “height of the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Having had surgery to remove a 2cm tumour from his lung, Mr Egan is sharing his experience to highlight the importance of being aware of the symptoms of lung cancer, as it was his wife, Geraldine, who encouraged him to find out what was causing his lingering cough.
“My wife and I were away in Dingle, Co Kerry in late 2019 and I had a sore throat and an annoying cough. I eventually went to see my own doctor and was diagnosed and immediately told I had a few months to live unless I got surgery.
“That was Tuesday and by the Friday that week, I was operated on in Dublin. I have to mention Dr Aidan O’Brien in the Regional and Rosie Murphy, the cancer nurse as they call her.
“I got great care and attention. It [the surgery] was a success and I’m still here!”
Mr Egan, a retired ship’s agent who was based in Foynes, says people are scared of the word ‘cancer’ but that really, they shouldn’t be “afraid to talk about it” and that “skirting around the issue” only delays matters.
“I think we need to be aware that anybody can get lung cancer,” he said.
“I did smoke, but I hadn’t smoked in nearly 30 years. I was healthy, I was active and yet, this little cough I had that would’t go away - that was lung cancer.
“I would really encourage people to be on the lookout for signs and speak to your doctor as soon as you can.
“I had my surgery and now I go for my check-ups, and that’s it, all because we caught it early.”
While he loves spending time outdoors and boating in Lough Derg, Mr Egan, who is now 70-years-old, has annual check-ups with cancer specialists, which he is grateful for. He said: “I am back to myself now.”
Research shows that 28% of Irish people don’t know the symptoms of lung cancer.
Additionally, six in every 10 lung cancer diagnoses are detected at a late stage.
Earlier this month, the Irish Cancer Society announced an investment of €4.9m into lung cancer research, which includes a mobile check-up unit in Dublin.
Mr Egan thinks this new pilot initiative is a wonderful idea and hopes to see it in Limerick, as it offers an alternative for people to get checked for cancer symptoms through walk-in appointments.
This, Mr Egan feels, is more convenient for people, rather than going through the hospital or healthcare system, where oftentimes people are reluctant to present to.