The kettle is always on in Cork for cancer survivors at the Girls Club

The cancer journey doesn’t end with the all-clear. Karen Funnell recalls the supports that provide helpful in the three years since she got the thumbs up.

There’s a lot to take in with a cancer diagnosis. Once the initial shock sinks in, you need to get your head around what happens next. Chemo, radium, surgery, scans, medication — the rollercoaster takes its toll — and the treatment can leave you feeling sicker than the tumour.

The journey doesn’t end once the cancer has been eradicated, though that is often where the traditional support seems to come to an end. The care I received at CUH was second-to-none and the medical team were like a comfort blanket, but you can’t expect to have your hand held indefinitely.