Ciara McDonald from Lisnaskea who is undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and her father, Paddy.
GETTING struck down with cancer at the age of 17 would leave most teenagers feeling angry and depressed at their lot in life, but Ciara McDonald is not like most teenagers.
Diagnosed with hodgkin’s lymphona six weeks ago the Mount Lourdes’ student’s life has been turned upside down as she has been forced to leave school and her job at Gilleece’s takeaway in Lisnaskea.
Instead of feeling sorry for herself though, bubbly Ciara looks on the bright side.
“Having a positive mindest is so important, it is no good if you get down about it. I just try to stay upbeat and make light of it all.”
It all began back before Christmas when Ciara started suffering with tight pains in the chest, but was told by doctors it was not serious. Next she found a lump under her arm in her armpit, but was diagnosed as having a body infection and given antibiotics. When these had no effect the situation came to head in January when another lump was found.
“I came home from work, my boyfriend lifted me and he noticed that I had a big lump on my chest. It was like a hard lump, it wasn’t soft, it was like a bone sticking out, so I then went again to the doctor, my third trip and that was when they realised there was something wrong here.”
After an urgent referral to Enniskillen for ultrasounds and cat scans and then a visit to a specialist a biopsy revealed the worst. On February 10 Ciara was told she was suffering from stage two hodgkin’s lymphona, a rare form of cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes.
“I was completely numb, it felt like my world had just fallen apart.
“I questioned why, because I worked so hard in school, worked so hard for my A levels and I just thought what have I done wrong to anyone? But then I just got so tired of being angry about it and became determined to do whatever it takes to get better. We’re just taking every day as it comes, we don’t plan and make the best of what we have.
“It’s been a real rollercoaster of emotions. Sometimes I wake up and think where has my hair gone? Is this actually happening? My nanny had breast cancer, but it has never been a thing we talked about and then the next thing you’re landed in a place called the Cancer Centre and you have to say the word and it is hard, but we’re keeping really positive about it.”
Ciara has so far undergone three of 12 bouts of chemotherapy and has already seen progress.
“The lumps are down, from the very first one the lumps were gone. The doctors are actually amazed it has worked so quickly. This is plan A – To do the 12 bouts of chemo and then plan B is hospital for three months for radiotherapy. Chemo roughly ends around July 21 and then you have to factor in the three months of radiotherapy, but I would hope to be better by Christmas.”
Ciara is indebted to the support of family and friends in her battle as she admits the chemotherapy does leave her sick and tired.
“It’s harsh, your body is just drained, I don’t remember the last time I wasn’t tired, but I’m so happy I just have to go up every two weeks and don’t have to stay in hospital.
“The support has been brilliant. We’re a really close family, it’s just Mummy and Daddy and my wee sister. They, my friends and my boyfriend Niall have just been great.
My friends are texting me every day what’s going on in school and the teachers have been brilliant with their support.”
Part of Ciara’s coping mechanism is a positive mental attitude and she is already looking past the cancer and thinking about the rest of her life.
“I’m not letting this get me down, the one thing as a 17 year old girl is losing your hair and I thought I would have been so down about it, but I’m not at all, just something inside you gets you through it. I have a wig too just in case, but I haven’t used it once.”
She continued: “When you’re in seventh year your exams are everything and it’s set in stone you’re going to go to university, but now I’m just looking at things differently, I’d love to travel and just start enjoying things. I would definitely say I have a renewed appreciation for life.”
The outlook for Ciara is positive with an 80% survival rate and although for the teenager, who celebrates her 18th on Friday, it is not an ideal birthday present, she is determined to ensure it doesn’t stop her from living a full life.
“It’s going to be a small bump in my road. It is my birthday on Friday and the doctors were saying you can have one drink and that’s it and no partying, but Mummy, Niall and me have made a pact that we will make up for it on my 19th. It’s just a wee obstacle I have to get over.”
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