Ciara McDonald with her boyfriend Niall McMahon
OVER half-way through her treatment 18-year-old Lisnaskea schoolgirl Ciara McDonald has received heartening news that she is beating cancer.
Ciara was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin’s lymphoma back on February 10, but three months on and after seven doses of chemotherapy the former Mount Lourdes pupil is fighting fit.
“I’m feeling fine, I’m over half way now and I’ve only five more chemo sessions to do, it’s going really well.
“I’m so tired still, but I haven’t been sick really, it’s just getting over the whole fear of needles. It’s still ongoing, but I have to say it’s very positive.”
Ciara explained the news which has given her a ‘great lift’.
“I got results back from my half-way scan this morning and the doctor was delighted. He said they were far better than expected and that the treatment is going really well.
“I think the tumours have completely gone, it is just now a case of killing of the cells.
“I’m over the moon, it really has given me a great lift, it’s brilliant. I’m glad I’m counting down to the last ones now and I think I’m through the worst of it now. My body has got used to it and it is just getting through those final five treatments. Once I got over half way it now feels like I’m closer to the end than the beginning. It’s just every other Monday I know what I have to go through and I know what the day consists of, so I’m just ready for it.”
Just two weeks ago Ciara joined her Mount Lourdes class mates at a school-leavers party and while it was great to see friends again she doesn’t want them to fail their exams worrying about her.
“I’m just trying not to distract them,” she laughed, “I don’t want them coming down to visit if they have revising to do, so I’m trying to work around that. I just want them all to do well and sure we will celebrate after.”
Ciara’s last chemotherapy session is scheduled for July 21st, then she will have a six week break before it is determined if any further treatment is required. The Lisnaskea girl already has plans for when that time comes.
“I wrote a ‘make a wish letter’ before I turned 18 and wrote down just a few wee wishes, I didn’t really put much thought into it, but out of that we’re going to visit the Harry Potter studios in London over the six week break and I’m so excited. I can’t wait!”
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