Nenagh breast cancer patient's appeal to get involved in Daffodil Day fundraiser

A Tipperary woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer is urging the people of Tipperary to support cancer patients by getting involved with the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day on Friday, March 24.  

Mother-of-two Anita Clarke from Nenagh went to her Breast Check appointment in 2019; she had no symptoms and says she felt it was something that was on her to-do-list.

Following her appointment however, Anita was called to an appointment in Galway and told something had shown up in her scans.

Following further tests, Anita was diagnosed with stage two her2 positive, invasive lobular breast cancer.

Anita was booked in for surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

“Treatment was brutal for me. I couldn’t get out of bed or stay up on my feet. I also was not able to work so I was on an illness benefit, which was about €164 a week.

"When I was having chemotherapy I used the Irish Cancer Society Volunteer Driver Service to get to and from treatment that was such a godsend. I don’t know how I would have managed without it. The drivers were brilliant, just the best thing ever. I also availed of the free counselling over the phone, it was good to be able to have someone to speak with through it all.

“I am delighted to be supporting the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day this year, the services and supports they provide are invaluable for so many people affected by cancer in Ireland," she said.

On top of funding life-changing cancer research, the Irish Cancer Society provides vital services and supports to patients and their families across Tipperary each year, including 880 free counselling sessions, 429 nights of in-home night nursing for cancer patients in their final days, and 660 free lifts to get patients safely to and from their hospital chemotherapy appointments in 2022.