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The Journal
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Journal
'If my mum was here she'd be fighting for this': Group demands breast cancer screening changes
A GROUP OF breast cancer survivors, and families who have been impacted by breast cancer, including those who have lost loved ones spoke about the need for changes to breast cancer screening in the Dáil today. Lobular Ireland, a group that promotes awareness of invasive lobular breast cancer, which can present differently to other types of the disease, is calling for mandatory breast density reporting in mammograms both in the public and private sector. In other parts of the world including Canada, the US, and Australia women are informed of their breast density, but although campaigners have been calling for the same to be done here since 2018, there has been little political discourse or conversation on the issue in that time. Breast density is a risk factor for cancer, as research has established that dense breasts have more cells than can potentially become cancerous cells, and dense breast tissue can make it harder for radiologists to see cancer on mammograms. Both breast tissue and tumours appear as white in mammograms, making it harder to establish a diagnosis in some cases. Nearly half of women aged over 40 have dense breasts, research suggests. Martha Lovett Cullen and her mother Marian. Martha Cullen Lovett's mother, Marian Lovett, got the all clear from a routine BreastCheck mammogram scan in August of 2022. A year later, she noticed a small lump in her breast and a change in her breast size, which she went to have seen by a GP. It was initially suggested to her that she should wait until her next scheduled mammogram, but she insisted on having a private mammogram. In October 2023 a mammogram revealed a suspicious shadow. Further testing revealed that Marian had dense breast tissue. The following month she was diagnosed with breast cancer, with a diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer confirmed later. In August 2024, shortly after her 61st birthday, Marian was admitted to hospital with pneumonia and fluid around her heart. Towards the end of that month her condition rapidly declined. On 26 August she passed away. Marian's death was an immense shock for Martha and her whole family – a matter of days before she had been having coffee in the hospital cafe with her mum. She says that her mother, who was originally from Tralee, was incredibly passionate about social justice and the arts – Marian worked as the Director of Temple Bar Gallery + Studio for ten years, and later ran the Limerick City Gallery of Art. 'More than that, she was just the most warm, selfless person. She raised me and my little brother with so much love. She cared so deeply about social justice and she wasn't afraid to speak out when something was wrong, she followed cases like Vicky Phelan's and Savita Halappanavar's closely and was always calling out injustices for women in Ireland, especially for women,' Martha said. Now, she is joining Lobular Ireland's call for breast density monitoring in Ireland. 'I think the big thing that stood out to her when she was diagnosed with breast cancer was that she was also told she had dense breasts for the first time, which kind of masked her tumour. Advertisement 'Throughout the whole time she was sick, she was really frustrated and confused as to why she wasn't told about it sooner. She did a lot of research into it herself, and she couldn't understand why that information isn't given out here, because it could lead to someone going for further testing, and getting an earlier diagnosis,' Martha said. It's been a devastating time for Marian's family, but Martha is determined to share their story in order to see change enacted. 'One thing we'll always wonder is if she knew she had dense breasts when she got that all clear mammogram, or when she started getting her breasts checked age 50, would she have been more aware of the risks, could it have made a difference? 'Maybe it could have kept her around, maybe not forever, but maybe it could have given us more time with her,' Martha reflected. She added that during her life, her mother taught her that 'silence isn't an option'. 'I still carry that with me every day, which is why I'm fighting for this on her behalf,' Martha added. Campaigner Siobhan Feeney. Siobhan Feeney is one of the founders of Lobular Ireland who spoke in the Dáil today. She herself was given the all clear after a routine mammogram in 2015. Just six months later she was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive lobular breast cancer at the age of 55. 'It was a tumour measuring seven centimetres, but I was later told that it was a slow growing form of cancer rather than it being aggressive, so I did wonder how it could be the case that it was missed,' she said. Siobhan had decided to go for a check up after noticing that her nipple on her right side looked as though it was being pulled in a particular direction. She was offered another mammogram and requested an ultrasound, which eventually led to her diagnosis. Siobhan ended up having a full right side mastectomy. During her time receiving chemotherapy and recovering from surgery, after learning that she had dense breast tissue, Siobhan researched the risks associated with dense breast tissue in-depth, and began the campaign to bring in reporting on it here. Members of Lobular Ireland calling for politicians to act at the Dáil today. 'I'm years at this now, and it's taken too long for us to be having this conversation in the Oireachtas today. In 2021 and 2022 we made submissions to the National Screening Advisory Committee to consider mandatory reporting of breast density. 'Telling a woman with dense breasts her mammogram is clear is incomplete information. There are studies that indicate up to 50% of breast cancers are missed on mammograms of women with dense breasts. Women do not know this because we are not being told. The Government now has it within its powers to make these changes,' Siobhan said. UCD Professor of Cancer Biology William Gallagher joined Siobhan and the other group members for the presentation today. Labour Party Senator Nessa Cosgrove invited the group to speak in the Dáil today. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
06-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
RTÉ's Cathy Halloran opens up about cancer diagnosis following retirement
RTÉ correspondent Cathy Halloran has opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis following her retirement from the national broadcaster. After 38 years with the national broadcaster, the former mid-west correspondent retired on Friday. Posting on social media following her final broadcast, she described meeting the thousands of people she has encountered over her 38-year career as 'a privilege'. In her first interview since announcing her retirement, Halloran revealed that she received a cancer diagnosis in March 2024, just six months after her partner Nicky Woulfe was also diagnosed. While both have received the all-clear and their prognoses are positive, their diagnoses have shifted their priorities and shaped their recent decisions. Speaking to the RTÉ Guide about the day she received her diagnosis, she said: "If you are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, it focuses the mind. I feel good now. I don't feel 64, more like early 50s. And apart from the cancer diagnosis, I've been healthy.' Over & out—last day @rtenews after 38 years 31as Mid West Correspondent 🙏to the 000's I met & interviewed been a privilege 🌷 — Cathy Halloran (@HalloranCathy) May 2, 2025 Halloran opened up about how her 20-year-old son John Michael took the news of her diagnosis, just six months after learning of his dad's cancer diagnosis. "The biggest challenge was do I tell John Michael? He started college in 2023, Woulfe got cancer that October and within six months cancer had visited us both. So, with John Michael, I decided to wait until I knew more: I didn't want to burst his bubble. But he was wondering why I had been up and down to Cork. I eventually told him then about the cancer diagnosis and the visits to BreastCheck. 'He just asked me: "Mum, will you get better?' And I said: 'Absolutely!' He didn't ask me any more questions. So that's my cancer story. But I was determined to go back to work, and I did in May 2024, just in time for the Limerick mayoral election and local elections. In many ways, work was therapy for me. Speaking about how she met Woulfe, she said she knew him from being in and out of the RTÉ studio back in the day, long before they were a couple. 'I was there with the big hair and miniskirt and the lipstick. He asked, 'Who's your one?' We later met in a pub, and it went from there. Now here's a story that you can make of what you will,' she said. Going on to speak about her son, she said she believes he was a gift, after finding out she was pregnant with him in her early 40s, after meeting Woulfe at 42. "I was 43 when I had John Michael. I waited so long for him and then, the next thing, he arrived. Right through my 30s, I wanted to have a child, but I was also so happy with my nieces and nephews. And the next thing, didn't it happen,' she said. She said that when she fell pregnant she worried about how she would manage her job with a baby but said she learned to adapt. Speaking about what she wants to do next with her life, she shared plans to travel: Europe, Chicago, the world, visit museums and galleries, and said that university - something she never did - is also an itch. Reflecting on her time at RTÉ, she said she will take with her the memories and said she is proud of the scripts that she wrote down through the years.
The Irish Sun
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness focused my mind', says RTE star as she retires after 38 years
RTE star Cathy Halloran has opened up on her "life threatening illness" as she retired from the national station. The Mid West Correspondent has worked with 2 Cathy Halloran has retired from RTE Credit: X/@HalloranCathy 2 Cathy has opened up on her cancer diagnosis Credit: X/@HalloranCathy She first began her career in the 1980s when she reported for The Farmer Magazine before moving to the Connacht Tribune in Cathy later joined RTE News in October 1987 as a reporter on The 64-year-old "To the 000's I met and interviewed been a privilege." read more on rte Cathy has now opened up on her devastating illness as she was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2024, just six month after her partner Nicky's cancer diagnosis. Thankfully, Cathy and Nicky have been given the all-clear and are now in remission. Speaking about her health, Cathy told RTE Guide: "If you are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, it focuses the mind. "I feel good now. I don't feel 64, more like early 50s. And apart from the cancer diagnosis, I've been healthy. read more on the irish sun "Time is the most precious thing and with my leaving of RTE, I'm no longer tied to the tyranny of time, deadline after deadline. Now it's time to set my own deadlines." The news star found love later on in life as she met her partner at 42 and welcomed their child, John Michael, at age 43. Lottie Ryan tears at father's 'legacy' on Late Late Show Cathy said her "biggest challenge" was what to tell John about her cancer diagnosis as he had started college in 2023 and was dealing with his dad Nicky's diagnosis as well. She explained: "I decided to wait until I knew more: I didn't want to burst his bubble. But he was wondering why I had been up and down to Cork. I eventually told him then about the cancer diagnosis and the visits to BreastCheck. "He just asked me, 'Mum, will you get better?' And I said, 'Absolutely'. He didn't ask me any more questions." FAN SUPPORT Cathy's friends and fans were all sad to see her leave RTE and made sure to send their support. Sports commentator The Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, wrote: " Cathy, unbelievable career and contribution to reporting. Enjoy the break. " We hope you'll not quite be hanging up the boots - only the RTE ones. Limerick thanks you for all you've done over the years. " Patricia commented: "Enjoy your new deadlines, have a fantastic retirement, it's well deserved and keep well." Teresa remarked: "Going out on such a high. You'll be sorely missed Cathy but this is your time in the sun."
Irish Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former RTE reporter shares secret breast cancer battle
Former RTE correspondent Cathy Halloran has revealed her battle with breast cancer. The former RTE News mid-west correspondent, who retired on Friday, revealed that she was diagnosed in March 2024 - just six months after her partner Nicky was also diagnosed with cancer. They have both got the all-clear and their prognoses were positive. "If you are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, it focuses the mind," the Dublin native said. "I feel good now. I don't feel 64, more like early 50s. And apart from the cancer diagnosis, I've been healthy. "Time is the most precious thing and with my leaving of RTÉ, I'm no longer tied to the tyranny of time, deadline after deadline. Now it's time to set my own deadlines." Speaking to the RTE Guide, Cathy revealed she was hesitant to tell her son John Michael about her diagnosis. "The biggest challenge was do I tell John Michael?" she said. "He started college in 2023, Nicky got cancer that October and within six months cancer had visited us both. So, with John Michael, I decided to wait until I knew more: I didn't want to burst his bubble. But he was wondering why I had been up and down to Cork. I eventually told him then about the cancer diagnosis and the visits to BreastCheck. "He just asked me: 'Mum, will you get better?' And I said: 'Absolutely!' He didn't ask me any more questions. So that's my cancer story. But I was determined to go back to work, and I did in May 2024, just in time for the Limerick mayoral election and local elections. In many ways work was therapy for me." John Michael is 20, with Cathy welcoming him in her 40s. "I was 43 when I had John Michael," she said. "I waited so long for him and then, the next thing, he arrived. Right through my 30s I wanted to have a child, but I was also so happy with my nieces and nephews. And the next thing, didn't it happen!" After 38 years with RTE, Cathy announced back in April that she would be retiring this month, with her final broadcast taking place last Friday. She has plans to travel, and teased that maybe a book could be in her future someday. "People say to me that there's a book in me. I've thought about it," she added.
