'I thought I was having a heart attack — it was actually bowel cancer'

Cork-based mother of two Natasha O’Byrne is undergoing chemotherapy, but that hasn’t stopped her from raising money for the charity that came to her aid

Natasha O’Byrne: "My GP put it down to gallstones and referred me for a colonoscopy. I was waiting and waiting for the appointment to come, and by October, the pains had gotten so bad I ended up having to call an ambulance.” Picture: Chani Anderson.

This article was first published on June 6, 2025

Natasha O’Byrne, a Cork mum of two, was diagnosed with bowel cancer last November. The 25-year-old is still undergoing chemotherapy.