A Co Tyrone mum of five who was diagnosed with cancer a year ago has opened up on her battle with the deadly disease.
Strabane woman Toni O’Kane, 28, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after she felt sick following a night out with her friends last November
She was brought in for tests which later revealed she was suffering from the disease and it has changed her life ever since.
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“I went out for my friend’s birthday last November and then next day I was really sick, and I went to get checked just in case,” Toni told Belfast Live.
“That’s when I was red flagged and was sent for a scan.
“The week before Christmas I got a letter to say that I had to go for a biopsy, nobody was in contact with me I just got this letter through the door one day.
“It’s just been a whirlwind because you never think you’re going to hear those words. In my head I knew I was sick because I was tired all the time.
“I tried to put on a brave face, but whenever I got the diagnosis it didn’t hit me for another two or three weeks.”
Since her diagnosis Toni says the main thing that has been on her mind is the welfare of her children, who are all under 10 years old.
“I’ve five children and I went from this fit and active woman to doing nothing. People kept saying to me it was all in my mind but I knew that I was sick,” she added.
“I never heard of thyroid cancer until I found this lump on my throat.
“Now I have had my full thyroid removed, so I am on a lot of medication. It’s life changing and the back of your mind all you are thinking about is who would come and look after my children.
“My oldest boy girl has autism and my two boys have a developmental language disorder and they need regular speech therapy.
“So you do think who is able to come in and take over everything and take over my daily routine.”
Just this week, Toni said she had some positive news in that a recent scan has shown that her cancer hasn’t spread, and that has given her a major boost.
“I got great news this week that the cancer hasn’t spread. The past couple of weeks I’ve been worried in case it had spread.
“In one sense I’m lucky because it’s a slow growing cancer but then obviously you’re not lucky if you have cancer.
“Every day is just a new day and you just have to be thankful for what you have.
“I do feel sorry for myself at times but that’s not going to help me push through.”
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