Laois woman living with cancer calls on everyone to walk for hope in this year's Relay For Life
Ethna Gleeson, aged 74, is calling on everyone to join the 'Relay For Life' in Co. Laois this year to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society.
Ethna has been diagnosed with cancer three times. Routine mammograms led to her diagnoses of breast cancer in 2007 and 2014, and in both cases she underwent successful lumpectomies and radiotherapy treatment.
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Extra.ie
8 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Woman's plea to ban sunbeds after skin cancer diagnosis returned
A woman who has twice been diagnosed with skin cancer has urged people to protect their skin and not to use sunbeds. Gill Costelloe has told how she nearly died and had to spend three months in hospital, even though her skin cancer had been detected early. The 45-year-old, from Ballybrack, south Co. Dublin, has spoken out through the Irish Cancer Society as calls build for Ireland to follow Australia's example and to ban the use of sunbeds. The scar left on Gill Costelloe's back after having surgery. The Programme for Government 2025 contains a commitment to explore a ban on commercial sunbed use, with public consultation underway and a cross-departmental working group established. The Institute of Public Health last month highlighted the significant public health risks associated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunbeds, which are classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation and the European Commission. Ms Costelloe is one of 11,500 people diagnosed with skin cancer in Ireland every year, making it the country's most common cancer. The National Cancer Registry of Ireland expects the number of people diagnosed with skin cancer in Ireland to double by 2040. Gill Costelloe urges people to protect their skin. Ms Costelloe was first diagnosed with skin cancer in 2016 after a friend noticed a mole on her back and advised her to get it checked out. It was a stage one melanoma, which was removed. Five years later, doctors discovered that she had a recurrence of melanoma that had spread. She said: 'I used sunbeds and spent years sunbathing to get a tan to look healthy, but, ironically, I'm far from healthy now. I was an avid cyclist and never once considered the damage I was doing to my body, being out on the bike for hours on end with no sunscreen.' Ms Costelloe recently got her first clear scan but is still living with the side effects of having skin cancer and going through treatment. She said she wanted to share her story to highlight the importance of getting moles and skin changes checked. 'People think that skin cancer isn't serious,' she added. 'Melanoma, even when it's surgically removed from the skin, can come back and spread to other parts of your body.'
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Former avid sunbed user who had skin cancer twice urges people to use fake tan and sunscreen
A woman who regularly used sunbeds got diagnosed with skin cancer twice - which spread to her hip, leaving her unable to cycle - is now urging people to use fake tan and stay safe in the sun. Gill Costelloe said her whole life has been affected as she urged people who assume skin cancer is not serious to think again. 'Mine was caught early but still spread to my liver, my lung, my breast, my stomach, my abdominal cavity and my hip bone,' she said. 'I nearly died and spent three months in hospital. I'm very, very lucky to be here today to tell my story.' The Dubliner, now 45, is one of 11,500 people diagnosed with skin cancer in Ireland every year, the most common cancer here. In 2016, a friend spotted a mole on her back. This turned out to be Stage One melanoma and was removed. However, in 2021, she fainted a number of days in a row and doctors found the cancer had come back and spread. In 2016, a friend spotted a mole on Gill Costelloe's back. This turned out to be Stage One melanoma and was removed. She called on people to be aware of health risks that she had not understood herself. 'I used sunbeds and spent years sunbathing to get a tan to look healthy but, ironically, I'm far from healthy now,' she said. 'I did sunbeds when I was younger before I'd go on a sun holiday so I wouldn't burn. It's no wonder I got skin cancer. 'I was an avid cyclist and never once considered the damage I was doing to my body being out on the bike for hours on end with no sunscreen.' She still faces serious challenges even though she recently had her first clear scan. "I'm still living from scan to scan, and I will always have that fear of it coming back again," she said, explaining she continues to take a tablet-based chemotherapy. 'Now I'm afraid to get back on the bike in case I have a crash and end up in a wheelchair, as I have cancer in my hip bone. It kills me that I can no longer do what I love,' she said. She still loves being outdoors - while wearing a hat - but said: I wear SPF every day now, even when it's cloudy. There are some great fake tans available now too, which I love. Irish Cancer Society cancer prevention manager Kevin O'Hagan said: 'Nearly nine out of every 10 cases of skin cancer are caused by UV rays from the sun or sunbeds. Sun safety is vital and that means protecting your skin, wherever you are, home or abroad'. He advised watching for changes to moles or other changes such as rough and scaly patches on the skin. Contact the Irish Cancer Society Freephone: 1800 200 700
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Irish Independent
Laois woman living with cancer calls on everyone to walk for hope in this year's Relay For Life
Today at 11:03 Ethna Gleeson, aged 74, is calling on everyone to join the 'Relay For Life' in Co. Laois this year to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society. Ethna has been diagnosed with cancer three times. Routine mammograms led to her diagnoses of breast cancer in 2007 and 2014, and in both cases she underwent successful lumpectomies and radiotherapy treatment.
