Soul Sisters

Most families have been touched by cancer in some form, at some stage. But for the Nolan sisters, cancer has cast a long shadow over their lives in recent years. Anne and Linda, both of whom battled cancer in the past, were diagnosed with the disease again in April last year. Their sister Bernie died of cancer in 2013 when she was just 52. Support, they say, is critical which is why they’re backing the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day this year and asking others to do the same.

While Covid has dominated headlines for more than a year now, cancer hasn’t taken a holiday, something the Nolan sisters understand all too well. When the Covid pandemic first hit, Anne (70) and Linda (62) were diagnosed with cancer within days of each other. Anne was told she had stage three breast cancer; Linda’s secondary breast cancer had spread to her hip and although it is treatable it is incurable.

They both began chemotherapy together at Blackpool’s Victoria Hospital. “It would be hilarious, if it wasn’t so tragic,” says Linda.

The two are urging the public to back this year’s Daffodil Day, to ensure that people being diagnosed and undergoing treatment for cancer get the support they need. Last year, the outbreak of the pandemic and public health restrictions saw a €2.3 million drop in donations.

“The support you get from cancer services is unbelievable,” says Anne. “You wouldn’t survive emotionally or mentally if it wasn’t there. It’s so, so important. It’s not until you get diagnosed with cancer or any life threatening illness that you realise how much you need people,” she says.

Thinking back to when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer more than 20 years ago, Anne remembers the shock and fear she experienced. “The first thing that came into my head was ‘am I going to die?’ The oncologist told me that it was treatable, that it was curable. But you’re still scared. I remember having this out of body experience. Everything was so unreal. You can’t believe this is actually happening to you,” she says.

Linda remembers that back then, the sisters were able to get together with Anne and laugh, cry, hug and “let her know we were there”.  This time round, with both of them diagnosed “we had to stand at the garden wall and wave.” 

This enforced isolation makes the experience of cancer even tougher on those being diagnosed, the sisters say. For people undergoing chemotherapy, there’s the added fear of contracting Covid at a time when their immune system is compromised. “I was told by the oncologist at the outset that, during chemo, if I got Covid it would be fatal. So I was terrified of going out. The last time I had cancer and chemo I was able to go out and visit people and have visitors.”

The emotional impact on both of them was profound. When Anne had an adverse reaction to the chemo she was receiving, she found herself in an isolation ward in the hospital, with a soaring temperature. The doctors kept testing her but couldn’t get a handle on what was wrong. “I only saw a nurse now and again. It was horrendous, really bad. I kept wondering whether I was going to die,” she says.

For the first time in her 70 years, she began to suffer from anxiety. “I never really understood anxiety before. I used to always think people just needed to pull themselves together, get over things. So I’ve really learned something. I really understand now what other people are going through with anxiety.”

“Everyone is different. Some people are fine talking where they’re at. Some people don’t want to talk about it. I would say, for your own sanity, you probably need to open up to at least one person. It’s all so hard to process,” she says.

The Irish Cancer Society continues to offer remote counselling to cancer patients and their families. Both sisters agree that this is critical. “Linda, myself and Bernie, when she was alive, we were lucky because we have an amazing family. But there are people who are on their own, who’ve no children and maybe their parents have passed away. Some people might not even have close friends,” says Anne.

Even with a good support network, some people prefer to talk to someone outside their circle, someone who is trained to listen. “Maybe you think you don’t want to be worrying people or maybe the people in their lives have their own personal problems.”   

Anne is still in treatment but cancer free. Like many others who have beaten cancer, she says the fear of it coming back never quite goes away. “Every time you have a pain anywhere you start to worry that it’s come back and you’re going to have to go through it all over again. You learn to live with that.”

For Linda, the battle is ongoing, but that hasn’t held her back. “Cancer is a big thing in my life but it’s not my entire life,” she says. Earlier this year she launched her own brand of gin, named Hudson’s Gin, after her late husband Brian. It was sold out 15 hours after it launched.

Both sisters live in the UK and have had their first dose of the vaccine, which has at least eased some of the fear around contracting Covid. “There’s light at the end of the tunnel,” says Linda.

Anne is delighted to be able to see her grandchildren again and get out the house finally.

The two women who hail from the northside of Dublin says they are incredibly proud to be ambassadors for the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day. “Charities through this pandemic have been hit so hard. People think it will be fine and it will pick up next year, but Daffodil Day raises millions of euro and we want to remind people that the Irish Cancer Society services are still here and we still need your generosity,” says Linda. 

Daffodil Day, supported by Boots, takes place this year on March 26. The Irish Cancer Society says it is the most important in its history, particularly after last year’s shortfall. Due to the current public health restrictions, street collections and community events will not be possible for a second year running.  However, there are still a number of ways people can get involved, including: hosting virtual fundraisers and collections, purchasing items from the Daffodil Day online shop, or making a direct donation.

Daffodil pins can be bought in any of Boots Ireland’s 89 stores nationwide. The pharmacy chain will also be hosting virtual fundraisers across the country.

To find out more visit cancer.ie/daffodilday 

Linda and Anne have written a book on their experience called Stronger Together, to be published by Ebury Press and released on April 15 and can be pre ordered now.

Irish Cancer Society’s Freephone Support Line: 1800 200 700