Cancer survivor’s inspiring journey

A NORTHSIDE cancer survivor has told how a Dublin support service is helping her cope with the devastating diagnosis that changed her life forever.

Ruth Wylie from Blackhorse Avenue in Dublin 7 had her life turned upside down five years ago when she discovered a lump on her chest during a holiday in South Africa.

“I took holidays for Easter to visit my best friend,

? she told Northside People.

“I hadn’t been feeling well for a good few months beforehand but I choose to ignore it. I thought that maybe the holiday would boost my energies.

?

Aged just 34, Ruth described her life at the time as

“busy, happy and quite carefree

? and just two days into the holiday her adventurous streak led her to some underwater shark watching from a cage.

“I was squeezing myself into a wetsuit when I found the lump,

? she recalls.

“It was a really, really big lump about the size of my knuckle. I knew immediately it was bad news.

?

Ruth kept the shocking discovery from her pals during the holiday, but went to her GP as soon as she arrived back in Ireland.

“That’s when the sea of tests and appointments started,

? she says.

“I got the official diagnosis about two months after I came home.

“Even though I knew there was something bad, I never really expected to hear how bad. I didn’t expect to hear I had quite a lot of cancer and quite aggressive cancer.

?

Ruth’s response to the news was typical of her character. She decided to take out a notebook and come up with a plan. She wanted to take control of the situation as best she could.

However, she soon found there were lots of things she just couldn’t do anymore and she moved back in with her parents for some loving support.

“Losing my independence was one of the worst things I have experienced,

? she admits.

“I had my own life, my own apartment and a job that I loved. And then I had to give it all up, including all my socialising. All dates from then on were with consultants in the hospital.

?

Not long into her cancer journey, Ruth was lucky enough to come across ARC Cancer Support, a service set up 20 years ago on Eccles Street to help men and women diagnosed with cancer.

“I took it upon myself to check it out to see would it be suited for me,

? she says.

“I was quite nervous. I was afraid it would be miserable and it would be a bad experience but it turned out to be quite the opposite. It’s been a really uplifting, friendly experience.

?

Ruth was offered a variety of practical classes at ARC to help her cope with her condition and decided to embark on a mindfulness course.

“I was finding it hard to relax and to get my mind to switch off. My mind was running away with itself.

“They taught me how to relax and how to enjoy the good times and helped me learn to meditate, which is very calming.

?

Ruth was advised to take some counselling but as she was getting

“terrific support

? from family and friends she admits to being a little sceptical about talking to somebody outside her inner circle.

“I never realised that having a chat with somebody outside of your friends and family could help so much,

? she laughs.

“I never thought I’d need counselling, because I’m very self-sufficient, but through lots of ups and downs medically I was sometimes finding it hard to cope.

“I had some very, very dark times. I didn’t think I’d get much out of the counselling but it was a very easy experience to go through and I found it extremely helpful.

?

Life has been difficult for Ruth since her diagnosis. She’s undergone a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy but with the help of family, friends and ARC she’s retained an inspiring appetite for life.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to work – and I never thought I’d say that – and to getting back to my apartment and just being normal again,

? she says.

“All this knocked my confidence and self-esteem but I’m improving and I know that when I get back into the mainstream again things can only get better.

“Without ARC, I wouldn’t have been able to get through it. In my experience, people either sink or swim when they’re in this situation and I think you need a bit of help to swim – and that’s exactly what I got from ARC.

?

Ruth’s sense of humour has helped her cope with her condition and she hasn’t let it get in the way of her itchy travel bug. In fact over the past few years she’s travelled the globe in between bouts of chemo and radium treatment.

“I’ve even ended up in hospital in a few countries,

? she laughs.

“Every time I had a few good weeks, I’d head off somewhere. I’m determined to have really good memories.

?

?¢ ARC’s centres are strategically located near the major centres of excellence for cancer care in Dublin at 65 Eccles Street (01-8307333) and at 557/559 South Circular Road (01-7078880).

All services are provided by professional staff and trained volunteers and are available to anybody free of charge.