Do you have a birthday coming up?
Why not ask friends and family to celebrate a cause that is close to your heart this year by setting up a Birthday Fundraiser in support of those affected by Oesopahgeal Cancer?
A Facebook fundraiser posted to your timeline tells your friends and family what matters to you and makes a real impact on your special day.
If you don’t have Facebook, you can also set up your Birthday Fundraiser on another platform such as iDonate
“I was shocked because I didn’t fit the profile for this type of cancer”
Margaret, a school teacher from Co. Clare, didn’t think that she was a candidate for Oesophageal Cancer but feels fortunate to have been diagnosed and treated early.
Margaret was 40 when she was diagnosed and is now feels fortunate to be cancer free for a number of years. Margaret is passionate about raising awareness of the often overlooked symptoms of Oesophageal Cancer
“I was shocked initially because I didn’t fit the profile for this type of cancer, but I was also glad to finally know what was wrong and was relieved that there was a plan in place – so onto the rollercoaster I went.”
“I would advise people to trust their instincts and look for medical care as soon as possible. It is also important to accept support from family and friends and learn to accept the things you cannot change and learn to adjust to a new way of living.”
'I went to the GP with acid reflux... but it was cancer'
Oesopageal Cancer survivor and father of four, Peter Cosgrave from Artane went to his doctor complaining of heartburn only to find out that he was suffering from Oesophageal Cancer - the same illness that he had lost his brother to just five years earlier.
“I was on holidays two years before the diagnosis and something stuck in my throat.
I went to the doctor and was referred for a scope but they put it down to an ulcer I was being treated for. I had a lot of acid reflux. I had four or five scopes done. Eventually after the fifth one I was called in to see a surgeon. I thought I was going to be told everything was fine but he said, ‘I think you need to have your oesophagus removed’.”
“The pain was horrendous. I got an epidural but when it wore off I was in agony.
They won’t let you go home until you can swallow and eat food. The surgery pulls your stomach up just underneath your throat so it’s one third the size it was. I couldn’t eat a three-course meal now because my stomach can’t hold it. I love my grub but if I eat too much I feel nauseous.”
“With my brother they presumed it was an ulcer. He was two years fighting it. He went through chemo, had his oesophagus removed but he couldn’t fight it any longer. They didn’t catch it in time.”
“I would say if you’re using a lot of antacids for heartburn you should get a scope done.”
“It’s bittersweet for me – I’m glad I’m still here for my wife Joan, my kids and my grandchildren but I’m sorry my brother’s illness wasn’t caught in time.”
