Tributes paid to inspirational breast cancer campaigner Ziva Cussen following her death at 24

Breast cancer sufferer and patients advocate Ziva Cussen, who died aged 24 on Saturday. Ziva spoke to the 'Irish Examiner' last year about delays she faced getting an ultrasound. See link at foot of this article. Picture: Instagram

Breast cancer sufferer Ziva Cussen, who died aged 24 on Saturday, “bravely inspired” others through her campaign for better healthcare, her family have said.

Ms Cussen was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer aged 21 in 2023.

Despite having this serious illness, she went on to co-found advocacy group ‘Too Young to be Heard'. It campaigns for more urgency around care for young women with breast cancer.

Her family said she will be “sadly missed” by all including her heartbroken parents and sister.

They added she will be “forever cherished” by many others including “the community she bravely inspired through her dedication to self-advocacy".

The other co-founders of Too Young to be Heard, Niamh Noonan and Muireann McColgan, shared tributes to Ms Cussen online.

“There are no words eloquent enough to convey what Ziva meant to us,” they said.

The late Ziva Cussen who was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer aged 21 in 2023. File picture

"Her story touched the nation and she did more for our cause in two years than many others did in decades." 

They said she faced an unimaginably difficult diagnosis with “poise and elegance”: 

Her unwavering commitment to raising awareness will save countless lives and she stopped at nothing to make sure of that.

Senator Teresa Costello supported Ms Cussen’s campaign including inviting her into the Seanad. 

“My thoughts are with her family, it’s a really, really sad time for them,” she said.

“We’ll keep fighting to make sure something happens, her voice will be heard.” 

She added: “Her story resonated with people because it was frightening to see a girl so young [become so ill].” 

Breast cancer is more usually found among women aged over 50.

Senator Teresa Costello, who had supported Ziva Cussen’s campaign, offered her condolences to Ziva's family and said: 'We’ll keep fighting to make sure something happens, her voice will be heard.' Picture: Fianna Fáil

Ms Costello supports the group’s call for more urgency regardless of age. This includes faster access to scans for people referred by GPs to symptomatic breast clinics. 

However, Ms Cussen previously told the Irish Examiner of delays she faced.

She had proactively gone to her GP in early 2023 with breast cancer concerns having found a very small lump. She was referred onto a clinic with an appointment around five weeks later.

After this appointment, however she waited until October for an ultrasound. She was in pain by then and the scan showed the cancer had spread.

“I was left waiting seven and a half months for an ultrasound,” Ms Cussen said. 

It’s a crazy amount of time to be left waiting for a scan that literally could have been done on the day. It’s less than 10 minutes, that scan. 

She was also a patient ambassador for Breast Cancer Ireland’s Very Pink Run last year.

Ms Costello said although treatment is not a guarantee of recovery in general, fast access is advised.

“Younger women are being told to examine themselves, they are being told to know their own normal and being told that early detection saves lives,” she said.

“Then when they land in the breast clinic, they are told ‘ok, you have a lump, you’ve been referred by a doctor and we will make an appointment for a scan’. Then they are waiting six months, that is unacceptable in my opinion.”