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05 Sept 2025

Irish woman puts 'fighting shoes on' after breast cancer diagnosis

Rachel Murphy was diagnosed with breast cancer at 38

Irish woman puts 'fighting shoes on' after breast cancer diagnosis

Reporter:

Reporter

03 Apr 2024 10:23 AM

An Irish woman "put her fighting shoes on" after getting a breast cancer diagnosis
To spread awareness, Rachel Murphy decided it was time to share her story after getting diagnosed with cancer at the age of 38.
"One month after my mother passed away I was brought in to a room and told I had breast cancer. I can't remember anything else said only those words. I remember thinking how can this be happening within one month of each other to have two of the worst things happen you that possible could. It had not even sank in mam was gone let alone this. All I could think about was my kids I needed to protect them. I decided that I wasn't going to tell them as I didn't want them to have any traumatic memories of me being sick with cancer," Rachel recalled.
After learning she was at the early stage, she put on her "fighting shoes", just like when she goes on a run. 
"Like any race I ever had I visualised the finish line. I had to keep it as normal as possible and that's exactly what I did. I got up for school with the kids when they went to school.
"I knew I had to tell the kids something so I said my hair fell out after mam died. I had a wig so I was just waiting for it to grow back. They both were brilliant and didn't make a big deal of it. That's kids for you! I knew I had to tell them but I needed it to be the right time when I was able to sit down and be my strong self and they wouldn't notice a difference just something that had happened."
After eight rounds of chemotherapy and 23 sessions of radiotherapy, Rachel said she finished treatment on her birthday.
Now, she wants to raise awareness and raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Research Institute.
"I would like for people to be aware and see that breast cancer doesn't care what age you are or how fit and healthy you are. I had just finished a 26k run when I found the lump, I was 38 and didn't smoke and drank occasionally, so it can happen to anybody. I want for people to be able to access a mammogram and not wait until they are over 50," she said.
Rachel will be taking part in the Dublin City Marathon.
"I see just what they do every single day. I am so thankful. Please check yourself at least once a month and don't put things off."
You can donate to the fundraiser here.

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