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Life

28th Oct 2015

Her Say | Living With Cancer

Author Emma Hannigan talks about battling cancer 10 times

Cassie Delaney

We are constantly astounded by the strength and resilience of Irish women. In this new series, we have committed to finding the most inspirational women of Ireland and giving them a say on the most relevant contemporary social issues.

If you would like to feature or know someone who would like to feature contact [email protected]

 

You’ll probably know Emma Hannigan as a best-selling author. She deals with themes relevant to every Irish woman; love, life, work, marriage and cancer. Her own battle with cancer is often reflected in her work, with her best selling debut novel featuring a protagonist carrying the BRCA1 gene. Emma didn’t have to look far for inspiration, discovering in 2005 that she herself carried the deadly gene.

Despite taking preventative measures and electing to have a double mastectomy, Emma was still diagnosed with cancer in 2007. For the first time.

Over the past 8 years Emma has battled and defeated cancer 9 times and is now receiving treatment for her 10th diagnosis.

Here she talks exclusively to Her.ie about her journey, her work and new initiative with its4women.ie to raise vital funds for Breast Cancer Ireland.

Follow the campaign on Twitter using #its4breastcancer, following @its4womenIRE and on Facebook.com/its4womenie.