‘People don’t realise how bad the facilities are until they get it’

MOTHER of four Bridget Guiry had developed lesions on her liver by the time her breast cancer was detected.

For 20 days in a row, she travelled by mini-bus from her home in west Waterford to Cork for radiotherapy.

“It took an hour and a half each way for six minutes of radiotherapy. I did it 20 days in a row. I simply wouldn’t have been able for a 21st day,” the 48-year-old Dungarvan woman said.

She was constantly sick and says she will never forget the tiredness. As the nation supports Daffodil Day today, she has urged everyone to fight for better cancer facilities.

Bridget had to give up work as a part-time cleaner and cook in the local convent when she got sick. The separated mum said her children, Seamus, 21, Marcella, 20, Jerome, 18, and Jason, 14, were great but her illness was a huge worry for them.

“People don’t realise just how bad the facilities for cancer sufferers are until they or someone they know gets it. I had my breast removed at Waterford Regional Hospital and I was very, very sore.

“Instead of spending time recovering, I had to sit into a mini-bus with other sick people and travel over and back to Cork. How long the journey took all depended on how many people were going to Cork for various treatments that day.

“I had to get my children ready for school, get the bus, get my treatment, wait around and head back home again that evening, only to turn around and get things ready for the next morning again. I’m due back soon for a check-up and already I’m dreading the journey. If only we had radiotherapy here in Waterford, it’d make life so much easier.”

The Cancer Care Alliance in Waterford says there is a lack of political will to develop cancer services.

“The resignation of a leading oncologist from Cork’s leading cancer centre is symptomatic of the token funding for the development of Ireland’s cancer service,” said campaigner Jane Bailey. “As €1.5bn is made available for the development of Irish roads, cancer services receive in the region of €23m per annum which is divided among the individual health boards.”