Dublin woman urges support for cancer patient services this Daffodil Day

A Dublin woman who was diagnosed with cervical cancer has urged the public to support cancer services, including through Daffodil Day on Friday March 25.

Mother-of-two Rachel Mallon [34] from Balbriggan was diagnosed with cervical cancer in June 2021 after a routine smear test showed she had abnormal cells and HPV.

Following surgery, she did not require further treatment and she was able to return to work in November 2021.

“I have good days where I feel like my old self and other days when I’m just exhausted for no reason. It’s been a huge rollercoaster but I am so glad to be here and have the outcome I did. Smear tests are so important,” Rachel says. “I know of 10 of my friends who hadn’t had their smear and it’s only because of what happened to me that they’ve since booked their tests.”

When Rachel had to tell her young daughters, ages 7 and 5, about her diagnosis, she used the Irish Cancer Society booklets offering advice for parents about talking about cancer with children, and she found these to be an invaluable resource. Rachel urges everyone to give what they can and support Daffodil Day on March 25.

“There isn’t a family in Ireland that hasn’t been affected by cancer in one way or another,” Rachel says. “The Irish Cancer Society is so important for everyone affected by cancer. Some people may have a great support network but they also need the information, facts and advice that the Society provides. Some people may be very alone with few family or friends and they rely on the Irish Cancer Society for support.”

On top of supporting life-changing cancer research, the Irish Cancer Society provides vital services to patients and their families in Dublin each year, including supporting 3,742 free counselling sessions, 1,173 nights of in-home Night Nursing for patients in their final days, and 5,448 Volunteer Driving lifts to get patients safely to and from their hospital appointments in 2021.

As Daffodil Day returns to the streets of Ireland for the first time since 2019 on March 25, the Irish Cancer Society is calling on the public to take part in any way they can to show solidarity and support for anyone affected by cancer.

As well as donating at Cancer.ie and volunteering to help fundraise, they can purchase items from the Daffodil Day online shop and take part in a steps challenge.

Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power said: “We are so excited to be able to get out on the streets again to see the amazing support the people of Ireland show to anyone affected by cancer. Daffodil Day is such a special and hopeful day for our entire community. Throughout the pandemic we’ve been so lucky that people have found innovative ways to support us but we are looking forward to seeing Ireland turn yellow once again on March 25.

“Daffodil Day is our most important fundraising event of the year and the money raised goes directly to funding crucial supports including our Support Line, free counselling, our Night Nurses to provide end of life care, and financial support for families of children affected by cancer. Along with these services, the money raised on Daffodil Day allows us to support life-changing cancer research.”