Laois mother shocked by lung cancer diagnosis speaks up for Daffodil Day

A Laois mother who is recovering after lung cancer, has urged others to go to their doctor if they feel anything is not right with their bodies.

Samantha Vaughan, a Naas, Kildare native, is living in Borris-in-Ossory for the past 18 years with husband Steven and their four children, aged 14 to 30.

Her diagnosis was down to her own tenacity to get answers for her ill health, as she told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

“After having covid in 2022 I began experiencing breathlessness and repeated sinus infections for months.

“It was all put down to long covid and I was put on a few courses of antibiotics and given inhalers, but nothing worked. I asked for bloods but nothing showed because they weren't looking for cancer.

“I then began feeling pain in my left side lower ribs, as though I had pulled a muscle . I asked to go to ENT and when there I asked for an X-ray,” she said.

“This showed a lesion in my right lung. After having a CT scan which confirmed there was a tumour, I was referred to the lung cancer rapid access service by my GP. Cork University Hospital got back to me first,” she said.

She was “totally shocked” at the diagnosis, made in September 2023.

“I was only 47 and felt I wouldn’t be affected by lung cancer as I was a non-smoker. It was never in my family.

“They took a biopsy and removed the tumour, they also checked my lymph nodes to see if it had spread.

“I ended up having half my right lung and an airway removed as there was signs of some cancer there. I was in hospital for two weeks after surgery, spending a number of days in ICU.

“I was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma, stage II, grade III). It was an aggressive form but I caught it in the early stage. The tumour was successfully removed, with no lymph nodes affected and the cancer hadn’t spread so no further treatment was needed,” Samantha said.

Six months on, she is now first to try a trial follow-up drug, a daily tablet that is hoped to protect her against a return of the cancer.

It is part of a cancer trial under Dr Collins in CUH.

“I feel very lucky to be able to do this,” she said.

“So far, it’s been up and down with side effects of the treatment. I have been dealing with some abscesses and ulcers in my mouth and nose, spots on the face, upset stomach and my taste buds aren’t great. My energy levels are also not the same, and breathing can be difficult sometimes as a result of the surgery.

“At the moment it’s the mental side I am struggling with most. I am experiencing bad anxiety which affects my sleep. I have been told to really cut down on my activity and I am also off work.

“I am a busy mum and always like to be out and about so I find no longer being able to do that very difficult. My recovery will take months not weeks,” she said.

She made friends during her hospital stays and they are a support for each other.

“We didn't want to be in this club but we wouldn't have met otherwise. They tell me the worry never goes away but you learn to push it to the back. I check myself more now for lumps.

“I’ve been attending the Cúisle Centre in Portlaoise, for counselling, mindfulness and reiki which I’ve found really helpful.

“At first I thought I wouldn’t need these supports but I have actually found them invaluable. Especially meeting other people who are going through similar and understand.

“One piece of advice I would like to share with others is to always follow your instincts. My gut was telling me that something wasn’t right in my body. Sometimes you have to push for further testing, you know your own body best.

“There seems to be a lot of diagnoses and a lot of that has to do with Covid, people didn't go to their doctor and they are now going.

“My hope for the future is to live long enough to enjoy my life to the fullest and all the special times ahead with my family,” Samantha said.

Her husband is actually also a cancer survivor.

“It has knocked twice on our door. Steven had testicular cancer 14 years ago. He was lucky, he went and got it checked out. There's not a bother on him now,” she said.

This Daffodil Day, the Irish Cancer Society is urging the public to Go All in Against Cancer. The Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day takes place on Friday, March 22.

Visit cancer.ie to donate or get involved, or donate to daffodil collectors on the day all around Laois.