Lorraine Henderson Finn is a mum-of-six who currently lives in Gorey, Co. Wexford.
Originally from Kilnamanagh, Tallaght, she is mother to Jamie, Aaron, Ryan, Kian, Josh and Sophia, and her husband, Peter, is a chef.
Just five months ago, Lorraine was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma, a stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis.
Lorraine noticed she had a small dimple on the side of her breast, and decided to go to her doctor to get it checked out.
“I thought it was strange so I went to my local GP just to be safe” Lorraine told RSVP Live.
“I was then sent for a mammogram, biopsy and an ultrasound. On the 26th of June, I was given my stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis. It was a shock for me and my family.”
Following her diagnosis, Lorraine had various treatments to try to fight off the cancer.
“I had a lumpectomy but the cancer had spread. I had 2 more surgeries after that to remove more of the breast and all of the lymph nodes from under my arms.
“A scan showed the cancer had spread to further spots in my other breast, as well as in my lung, liver and kidney.”
Lorraine is currently waiting for an MRI in December to confirm the extent of the cancer, but for now, she remains at stage 3.
Telling her friends and family, especially her children, that she had breast cancer was not easy for Lorraine.
“At first, I wasn’t going to tell the kids as I thought I could keep the cancer under wraps. Unfortunately, the effects of the treatment have been obvious so I had to tell them.
“Initially, they were shocked, angry and upset. They kept asking, ‘Why you Mammy?’. My husband Peter was devastated, but they’re all trying to support me the best way they can.”
As well as invasive treatments for her cancer diagnosis, Lorraine also has to overcome another obstacle. Lorraine has to drive from Gorey in Wexford to St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin to avail of her treatment.
“When you live in Gorey and have breast cancer, you are automatically referred to St Vincent’s.
“St Vincent’s have been amazing so far. They treat you like a person and not just another case. I can’t thank them enough.”
Despite all the amazing work that St Vincent’s have done for Lorraine, it doesn’t make the situation any easier for her or her family.
“The drive to and from St Vincent’s Hospital back to Gorey is not ideal. After chemotherapy, I am very fatigued, sore, and sick. The drive is an added hardship but I am managing as best I can.
“My chemotherapy treatment will be finished in 6 months, I will then have to have radiation therapy every day for 8 weeks, which means I will have to stay up in Dublin.”
The impact of Lorraine’s cancer on her family has been enormous, and has even put her husband Peter’s job on the line.
“Peter needs to be available to drive me to my treatments, appointments, scans, etc. He also needs to drive me home after my surgeries, as I can’t drive myself, and take care of me on days when I simply can’t take care of myself.
“Peter works as a Head Chef and his job cannot always accommodate all this time off. This could impact his job security down the line, as they need him to be there and he can’t be there.”
Throughout this entire ordeal, Lorraine says the worst part of it all has been the impact it’s had on her kids.
“I am a typical Irish Mammy, I absolutely love looking after my kids. I love to be there to drop them at school, be there for sports matches, cook their favourite dinners, and just be there for them.
“I live for my family, and my biggest fear is not being around to look after them and see them all grow up, and help them through life.”
Lorraine prides herself on her appearance, as she is a very glamorous lady. Since her cancer diagnosis, Lorraine has struggled with her confidence but is still fighting.
“I feel vulnerable and self-conscious but I’m trying my best to stay positive and fight this cancer as best as I can.”
You can donate to Lorraine’s GoFundMe page here.
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