Cancer battle ‘like weeding dandelions’

RTÉ’s Morning Ireland presenter Áine Lawlor has told an international conference that fighting cancer was like a gardener trying to eradicate dandelions — you had to make sure every tiny bit of the root is removed.

The 50-year-old mother of four, who successfully battled cancer, made the comment last night as she attended an international conference at UCC focussing on the vital role culture and the arts can play in helping patients recover from serious illness.

And #expillness is a go - just given wonderful Aine Lawlor of @morning_ireland tour of @glucksman - she is first speaker tonight.

— Fiona Kearney (@fionakearney) November 30, 2012

Ms Lawlor, who returned to the airwaves last July after successfully fighting the same type of breast cancer that claimed the life of her mother, later addressed the “Experience of Illness” conference.

Aine Lawlor tells a hall of medical practitioners what it's like to be a cancer patient. moving and surprisingly inspiring. #expillness

— Orlagh O'Brien (@orlaghob) November 30, 2012

The two-day conference, which continues today, is being attended by 500 people, including some of the top doctors and health researchers from across Ireland, Europe and North America.

Ms Lawlor was looking at pictures of dandelions which formed part of the exhibition when she made the comment about getting to the root.

The broadcaster said that during last winter, as she was coping with chemotherapy and the resultant baldness, her thoughts also turned to a gardening theme.

Fergus Shanahan and Aine Lawlor discussing the topic of 'celebrity illness' #expillness pic.twitter.com/H3bm7wYc

— APC Microbiome Ireland (@Pharmabiotic) November 30, 2012

“I had planted loads of tulips in the garden and knew they’d grow again.”

The radio star, who is married to 2FM producer Ian Wilson, underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

She added that when people are ill their perspectives change and described the joy she got from looking at her garden or sunsets.

“There’s an extra dimension and extra preciousness to them,” Ms Lawlor said.

Wonderful pic of @morning_ireland Aine Lawlor with @glucksman exhibition guide feat. Jo Spence portrait #expillness pic.twitter.com/Lye5cclr

— Fiona Kearney (@fionakearney) November 30, 2012

She added that her love of opera also helped her to cope.

“The odd thing about illness is that you go from being empowered to suddenly just being a body that doctors take control of,” the broadcaster said.