Testimonials

I was diagnosed with Breast cancer in 2014 at the age of 47. I was encouraged by my sister to have a mammogram as she herself was diagnosed with Breast cancer. As I had no lump at all or no symptoms it took a lot of persuasion to make the first visit to the doctor. I was extremely shocked with being diagnosed with Breast cancer. It was a very emotional time for myself & my family. A friend told me about Wicklow Cancer Support & I felt that I needed to talk to somebody who had gone through cancer. I called in & it was the best thing I ever did. I was put in touch with a counsellor & I also had massage therapy which I found very relaxing at the time. I was offered driving support which is a fantastic service as it allowed my husband & family to continue working. While I was going through radiotherapy, I was driven by the most pleasant volunteer drivers whose knowledge of cancer was comforting & reassuring. Having been through breast cancer, the support of the ladies coffee morning & the art class has been phenomenal. We meet on a Wednesday & the class is growing bigger by the month. We have two fantastic volunteer teachers who have supported us over the last few years. The art class is very therapeutic but it is also great craic. On my cancer journey I have made some wonderful friends & have come a long way.

Having been diagnosed with cancer soon after my husband died; needless to say I was devastated. I thought my world had ended. However, my son was very insistent that I visit Wicklow Cancer Support. From my very first visit where I was made most welcome I was greeted with the most sincere and friendly welcome. I soon learned that the support group was a very welcome refuge. I was not only driven to hospital by the most wonderful volunteer drivers, in fact I soon began to look forward to hospital visits. Each driver was so kind, thoughtful & patient which made each trip very interesting. I was also introduced to the weekly coffee morning group and art group through each visit I’ve met & made many wonderful friends. I have a lot to thank cancer for & Wicklow Cancer Support has made my journey through cancer very bearable & I am so thankful for the kind & sincere friendship I have met & made since I walked through the doors of Wicklow Cancer Support. Anonymous

I applied to become a volunteer driver for Wicklow Cancer Support over 3 years ago. I have no hesitation in saying that it was one of the best decisions of my life. I have met so many new people from every walk of life. Everyone has a story to tell. In driving a patient to and from their treatment you join in their journey. For some it might be just a check up following treatment and you can detect their relief when good news is received. Other patients may be undergoing daily radiotherapy treatment for a number of weeks and as they get near the end of this treatment you support them through a very tiring process. I have found the courage of the patients remarkable, despite the strain of what they are going through. There is no direct public transport to St. Vincent’s or St Luke’s or St. James’ and parking in the big hospitals is a nightmare and costly. Many have families but they have their own lives with work and schools so to be picked up at your door, dropped off at the hospital and then brought home is a huge relief to the patient. I now look forward every week to getting a call from the office to see if I am available to do a lift. It does help that the whole system is extremely well organised within Wicklow Cancer Support.

I didn’t have cancer but my husband did. I was invited to the ladies coffee morning for support. I found by going to the coffee morning on Thursday that there was always someone to listen & to understand what I was going through on my husband’s cancer journey. My journey was made much easier by meeting & speaking to people in Wicklow Cancer Support who knew exactly what I was going through. Even though my husband has passed, I still have great contact with all my cancer buddies. We have had some great nights out such as The Marie Keating Survive & Thrive Fashion Show. After getting so much support I was encouraged to join the Art classes which I found therapeutic. Without the support of the Wicklow Cancer Support Group I would never have coped. Anonymous