Two sisters who have both beaten breast cancer say they owe their lives to Action Cancer.
Coirle Butler, from Donaghadee, and Ciara Ralston, from Crawfordsburn, are encouraging other women to book a mammogram.
Coirle, who is a mum to twin boys Patrick and Rory, was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2010.
Read more: NI mum features on Mother's Day cards after fears cancer would affect fertility
Ciara, mum to Oliver, 19, Eva, 16, and Henry, 15, was later diagnosed in early 2019.
Coirle, 54, said she made a breast screening appointing back in 2010 as her second cousin had died of breast cancer.
She said: "The day of my appointment I attended the clinic, put a donation in the box and thought ‘job done’. Less than a week later I received a letter from Action Cancer saying I needed a follow up. I tried not to worry as I was aware a lot of people got this alert. It was prize day at the children’s school. I knew I had to get through that but all I could think of was the letter.
"I was lucky enough to have private health Insurance and I was able to get an appointment with at a Breast Clinic that night. The surgeon couldn’t do a fine needle biopsy so arranged a core biopsy at Belfast City Hospital the following week. Following that appointment, I was given the devastating news that I had breast cancer. The size of the tumour could not be determined so a mastectomy was required.
"It was organised very quickly and in July 2010 I had the mastectomy and a biopsy. The hardest time was waiting for results. Thankfully when they did come through the margins around the tumour were good and it had not spread to the lymph nodes. No chemotherapy or radiotherapy was required."
She added: "The oncologist recommended I start taking tamoxifen and it was during this conversation that he started to quiz me on my family history. When we started to talk through it, we discovered a trend of cancer on my grandfather’s side. He had three sisters, two of whom had had breast cancer and the third died from ovarian cancer.
"Due to this extensive trend of family history, it was recommended I have my ovaries removed a preventative measure. This took place in Easter 2011.
"I can honestly say that Action Cancer saved my life.”
Her sister Ciara said they were shocked when they discovered the family history and had always thought there was no breast cancer in the family as neither their mother or grandmother had ever had breast cancer.
The 48-year-old added: " We had never thought about it coming through the male side of the family.
"Because of this history discovered by Coirle’s diagnosis, I began to receive annual checks at the family history clinic at the Belfast City Hospital aged 37.
"I have to admit at the time I thought it was a bit of a belt and braces approach but I went anyway.
"On New Year’s Eve 2018 I discovered a lump in my breast. I wasn’t overly concerned as I was having regular mammograms but thought I had better phone my GP. She asked me to come in and it was on the tip of my tongue to say I couldn’t come in because I was having forty people for New Year’s Eve dinner! I did go and she referred me to the breast clinic for a scan, a mammogram and a biopsy on the lump.
"The lump was benign but the scans had shown a different type of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ. To be honest I wanted a mastectomy and my ovaries removed but the doctors said that medicine had moved on so much since Coirle’s diagnosis, that would be over treatment."
Ciara had surgery in February 2019 and was told she would most likely need radiotherapy.
However, the results of the surgery were successful and it wasn’t necessary in the end.
The mum-of-three added: "One year later it was recommended that I also have my ovaries removed for preventative reasons. This was performed by keyhole surgery and I was back at work two weeks later!
"If Coirle hadn’t attended Action Cancer for breast screening nine years earlier, neither of our cancers would have been detected at such an early and treatable stage.
"Action Cancer saved both our lives.”
In 2019 the sisters raised funds for Action Cancer’s Breast Friends Fundraising campaign.
They organised a ladies Pink Boobie Lunch and raised £4,000 which was matched by online car insurance provider its4women.co.uk meaning the charity received £8,000.
Action Cancer has renewed a partnership with local online car insurance firm, its4women.
Every penny that is raised during the Breast Friends drive, which takes place in sync with this year’s International Women’s Day on Tuesday March 8, will be matched by its4women. This means the public fundraising goes twice as far and double the number of women benefit.
To mark International Women’s Day (March 8th), Coirle and Ciara are encouraging others to get behind the Breast Friends campaign and raise more vital funds.
Action Cancer’s breast screening service is unique in Northern Ireland and is available to women aged 40-49 and over 70 — those who fall outside the NHS screening age range (50 – 70).
For more information on Action Cancer’s services, call 028 9080 3344 or visit www.actioncancer.org
To get your free Breast Friends fundraising pack call Leigh Osborne on 07928 668543 or email events@actioncancer.org.
Read more: Belfast nurse on overcoming cancer to achieve her dreams
Read more: Woman launching new charity to support mental health in inner East Belfast
To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
