'When I was 40, cancer came crashing into my life like a tornado'

It’s been 15 years since Karen Murray was diagnosed with breast cancer, a milestone that means her risk of recurrence is now the same as any other woman her age. Despite the ordeal, she is determined to remain positive and not let negative thoughts live “rent-free” in her mind

Karen Murray, who has recovered from breast cancer. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Fifteen years ago, the rollercoaster began. Having just turned 40, with two children under six, cancer came crashing into my life like a tornado. 

No warning signs, no family history, no genetic predisposition. Even the GP wasn’t overly concerned about the lump I’d discovered while in the shower, believing it was probably a harmless cyst or fibroid.