Published: Wednesday, 14th July, 2010 5:30pm

Caroline relives her fight with cancer

Barrymore woman to feature in tv programme

"It was completely out of the blue," Caroline Harney reflected from her home in scenic Barrymore this week on her cancer diagnosis at the age of 31, some four years ago now.

With her son just over a year old, the discovery of a pea-sized lump on her breast didn't unduly trouble the mother-of-two as she thought it was probably a blocked milk duct after breastfeeding or a harmless cyst. With no history of the disease anywhere in her family, cancer never entered the equation, but after a biopsy just before Christmas, the dawn of 2007 brought bad news.

"I knew just to look at him," she said of the moment the doctor told her of the diagnosis. "He said it was bad news. I asked what he meant and he said it was cancer," Caroline, who features in a new documentary by the charity Cancer Care West, entitled An Oasis of Care recalled in recent days. Her story is told alongside three others, who candidly reveal their personal experience of cancer, the fears, anxieties and the supports they received from the Cancer Care West organisation along the way.

"The first thing I thought of was my daughter Aoife and would she get it," the friendly, warm 35-year-old commented. "The two of us, myself and husband Shane were just so shocked. Then I thought how am I going tell my parents." So stunned was she in the wake of the devastating news, Caroline said she forgot to ask any questions of the doctors and it was only in the days afterwards as she grappled to process the diagnosis, that her lack of information became apparent.

A call to Action Breast Cancer, part of the Irish Cancer Society proved very helpful, the Barrymore resident said as a nurse explained everything to her and put her mind at rest that the cancer, discovered in the early stages could be beaten. "I was lucky, I caught the lump early. I had a lumpectomy and then I had four bouts of chemotherapy in Ballinasloe and then 35 sessions of radiotherapy in Galway."

Losing her hair and the sickness of the chemotherapy was difficult she admitted, but in some ways the radiotherapy took more out of her.

"After a week my energy levels were zapped. That was really hard, and to drive to Galway everyday would have been too much for me," she explained. It was at this juncture that she heard about Cancer Care West, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting those whose lives have been affected by a cancer diagnosis. One of their main facilities is Inis Aoibhinn, a 30-bedded residential facility on the grounds of University Hospital Galway, which provides accommodation to patients receiving radiotherapy and their families.

Staying there Monday to Friday was a great support on every level, an experience she said really stood to her. In the documentary Caroline compared it to "homely country retreat," very different to the hospital environment she was expecting. "There was a sense of togetherness, a spirit of we'll get through this and we'll have a laugh doing it," she added as the film showed residents taking part in a range of activities from a lively sing-song, to dancing, yoga, nutrition classes and alternative therapies like reflexology, all of which is funded from donations.

"It was fantastic, it was also great for Shane and my parents not to be worrying about me staying in a bed and breakfast on my own," she remarked, adding that it was also a great help to process the news with others in the same boat. "It's a great facility. It's so needed. People in Donegal, Connemara, Westport would have had to travel daily by bus or by car otherwise," a difficult journey to make when you're ill.

"It was kind of like a Butlins Holiday Camp for people with cancer," Caroline joked in the 35 minute documentary, directed by Kevin Glynn. "In Inis Aoibhinn, if you had a crap day, you could talk to someone and know that you're not going crazy."

A lot of people asked her was it not a bit morbid in Inis Aoibhinn but Caroline said the reality of the new, bright building and the fabulous friends made there was so different to the perception. "It really was a home away from home," she said, adding that there was also space for family or close friends to stay with her. "There was great camaraderie between everyone," plus she said you always saw cases worse than you so everything was kept in perspective.

Now, three years on after the treatment, the Barrymore mother to Aoife and Alex, is feeling good and is actually preparing for her first mini-triathlon in Loughrea. "My next challenge," she smiled. Although she is a trained watchmaker and repairer, Caroline hasn't been involved in the industry for a number of years, and now works part-time in Irish Soap and Candle Company in Athlone Towncentre. In fact, when I met her this week she had just cycled home from town after a day's work in the shop.

"I could show you 20 people who have got through it," Caroline said of the whole cancer experience, one she admitted has changed her for the better. "I still think it's a tough six months but there is a way through it. It makes you stronger."

"Now, if the sun shining I'll say leave the housework and go out and enjoy the sun with the kids. I take the days as they are," she said, pointing out that the experience has made her mindful of the here and now and to be more patient, rather than racing around to a time schedule like in the past.