'I was almost thankful for my diagnosis': Breast cancer survivor

Ena Barrett can still hear the haunting words that sent her life into a spiral: 'You have cancer'.

She was 45 years old in 2008 when she went for what she expected to be a 'routine' appointment. A biopsy was recommended and then came the diagnosis.

Fifteen years on, the Falcarragh native, who now resides in Newtowncunningham, is a breast cancer survivor and one of the lead members of Relay For Life Donegal, having been part of the formative group in 2012.

Hers is a story of survival that will resonate with the hundreds who will gather at the ATU Donegal campus in Letterkenny for the 2023 Relay For Life.

“I don't think that anyone can prepare you for those words, 'you have cancer',” Ena says. “In 1979, I lost a brother to cancer. No-one in the world can prepare you for hearing those words. You don't really hear anything else that's going on.

“While cancer is so common now, you always tend to think that it's something that happens to others.

“When I was first diagnosed, my first thoughts were so vain: How long will I be out of work? Am I going to lose my hair?

“Survivorship is on the increase now. Although more people are hearing those words, more people are surviving – and that's a key message for Relay For Life this week.”

Ena was out of work for two years as she underwent a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and brachytherapy.

The mother-of-three had her life on hold as she fought the disease.

“Mine was a tough journey, but my diagnosis was straightforward,” she says. “I had an aggressive form of breast cancer, but it was got on time and I came out the other side.

“I had fabulous care in Letterkenny and I had my radiation in St Luke's. I met so many amazing people along the way.

“I was almost thankful to my diagnosis. It stopped me in my tracks and made me re-evaluate whet was important in life. I haven't looked back.

“If someone got the same diagnosis now, the treatment path would be much simpler. Relay For Life raises money for research and the research has made a difference to treatments and outcomes.”

The first Relay For Life Donegal took place in 2012. Ena, Robert O'Connor, Seamus Devine and Drew Corry remain involved from the original group, although this weekend's event will see Robert step away as the Chairperson.

“It will be difficult for him to go,” Ena says. “He has given so much and I'm sure it will be an emotional closing ceremony for him. Robert has invested so much of his time in Relay For Life, he has been the heart of it since 2012 and it took us two years to get it off the ground.

“It has grown so much and, really, it is more than just a fundraiser now. I got involved because I wanted to bring something back to Donegal after my own diagnosis.

“We had no idea that it would grow so much when we started off. Relay For Life is just such a meaningful event and it's about everyone who attends; the people involved and their stories. It's about the people who are prepared to put on the purple t-shirts and be a beacon of hope.

“We have amazing teams who create fun, craic and atmosphere. They all make Relay For Life an amazing experience The people involved are impacted by cancer, but cancer doesn't define them.”