This month, Today FM's Dare To Care campaign is aiming to raise vital funds for the Irish Cancer Society.
Mary Canavan joined us on The Last Word to tell her story of going through breast cancer while pregnant with her first child.
Mary was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 32. She found a lump in her breast when she was seven weeks pregnant.
She says, "We don't expect it to affect younger women, and it does."
Although she originally thought it might be a normal symptom of pregnancy, she decided to get it checked out by her doctor. She describes the news of her diagnosis as "absolutely devastating".
Fortunately, Mary was able to safely have chemotherapy without her baby's development being affected, something which once would have seemed impossible.
Although she lost her hair, she didn't feel as sick as she thought she might. However, going through chemo did have an emotional impact on her experience of pregnancy.
"This was my first pregnancy so I was quite nervous, and even after I had my baby I still had more chemo to do."
"I didn't really look too far into the future because I'd feel like it wasn't going to be achievable."
Mary stopped chemo when she was 34 weeks pregnant, and her son was born last August at 38 weeks.
She resumed chemo six weeks later, which she admits was difficult as a new mother: "There were moments of joy, but it was a countdown."
Mary's son is happy and healthy, and she is now also doing really well.
She says, "I feel so lucky that we were able to go through this journey and have such a positive outcome."
If you want to get involved and BE A DANCER FOR CANCER this April, Register your event online now by visiting todayfm.com/daretocare
You can also DONATE €4 TO #DARETOCARE BY TEXTING THE WORD ‘DARE’ TO 50300
Text costs €4. Irish Cancer Society will receive a minimum of €3.60. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY
