'I've had cancer six times — and I'm still thriving'

Stemming from a rare genetic condition, Brian Tobin has had cancer six times since the age of 19. However, he says people can survive and thrive despite this challenge

Brian Tobin: 'In Ireland, the lack of appropriate whole-body MRI scanning facilities means the State is failing people with Li-Fraumeni syndrome.' File picture: Patrick Browne

Before Christmas, it was revealed that at least 197 children across Europe were born from the sperm of a donor with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, an extremely rare genetic mutation that can lead to the development of multiple, aggressive cancers over the course of one’s lifetime, often with early-onset cancer in childhood or adolescence. 

Indeed, many of these children developed cancer, with a number dying at a very young age. In the case of these children, Li-Fraumeni syndrome was inherited from the sperm donor, who was unaware that he had the condition when donating as a university student, but it can also be identified in persons with no family history of the condition, as in my case.