Northside breast cancer survivors share their stories

THREE Northside women have shared their stories of breast cancer survival in an inspiring exhibition that ends this week.

Bernie Walsh from Clonsilla, along with Deirdre Morrissey and Ashley Coffey from Marino, are all contributors to the ‘Out the Other Side: Stories of Breast Cancer Survival’ exhibition.

The exhibition is now open at the Mater Hospital, in the Whitty building Atrium until May 12. 

According to the Marie Keating Foundation, there are over 28,000 women in Ireland who are breast cancer survivors. CEO, Liz Yeates, says breast cancer challenges don’t end with survival.

“The prospect of rebuilding your life after something as significant as cancer can be daunting,” she explains.

“All of the women featured in the exhibition are living proof that it is possible not only to come out the other side of a breast cancer diagnosis, but to thrive and grow after it.”

One of the survivors featured in the exhibition is Bernie Walsh from Clonsilla, who was diagnosed in November 2012. Bernie, who has been involved with Coolmine Musical Society for 16 years. described the moment she finally felt she was cancer-free.

“Standing on the stage on the opening night of Jesus Christ Superstar, that was when I knew I had made it through breast cancer,” recalls the mother-of-two who was chairperson of the society when she got her diagnosis. 

A few weeks before the musical, Bernie took part in a flash mob with 100 other people in Leopardstown racecourse. She says she isn’t afraid to do spontaneous things anymore.

“My advice to anyone would be to grab life with both hands and run with it,” says Bernie.

Ashley Coffey from Marino who was first diagnosed in 2005 is another local survivor featured in the exhibition.

“My life kick-started when my breast cancer came back nine years after my first diagnosis,” she says. “I wasn’t going to let cancer consume me. If it wanted me, it could chase me.”

Ashley said that although she got cancer, she “definitely got the travel bug as well” and fit in trips to Barcelona, Amsterdam, Marrakesh and Portugal before her chemo treatment. 

Ashley says her children were, and still are, her driving force.

“These days, instead of putting barriers in my way, I knock them down,” she adds. “I am creating loads of memories for myself and my children.”

REPORT: Róisín Nestor