Donegal cancer survivor Caitríona Greene from Gortahork is set to feature in a powerful new documentary exploring innovative breakthroughs in cancer research.
Caitríona, a mum of two, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 when she was 8 weeks pregnant. She held off treatment until she was over 12 weeks pregnant and did 10 rounds of chemotherapy before giving birth to her beautiful daughter.
Both Caitríona and her baby girl survived and are enjoying life to the fullest today.
Caitríona tells her story in Biseach ón Ailse, a programme backed by Breakthrough Cancer Research which is set to be broadcast by TG4 later this month.
In a heart-warming meeting of the minds, broadcaster, journalist and cancer survivor Evelyn O’Rourke brings two fellow cancer survivors face-to-face with dedicated cancer researchers to uncover the life-changing impact of cancer research.
Caitriona says, “You have to trust the research and think about the women who came before me who didn’t have research. I think about the first pregnant woman to receive chemotherapy who didn’t have research. She did that so women like me could sit in that chair and know that I was doing the right thing.”
Caitriona and her husband Cathal Diver
The documentary highlights how more people are surviving cancer in Ireland today thanks to investment in research and why there is a critical need for more research into poorer prognosis cancers.
50 years ago less than half of people diagnosed with breast and prostate cancer could look forward to more than five year’s survival. Today, thanks to investment in cancer research, the five-year survival rates for those cancers are 88% and 93% respectively. However, today some cancer survival rates are still less than 15% (National Cancer Registry: Annual Statistical Report 2022). The programme also sheds light on the groundbreaking work being done by Breakthrough Cancer Research, whose vision is to create 100% survival for 100% of cancers.
The documentary, supported by Breakthrough Cancer Research and produced by Derek Nagle of Bo Media will be aired on Thursday 22nd June at 8.30pm TG4.
