“It’s Something That You Need to Start Thinking About Early” – Cancer Survivor Jen Hunt Tells Us About Her Story

Team Her.ie is taking part in this year’s Flora Women’s Mini Marathon and we want YOU to join us.

We’re getting ready for this year’s mini marathon with our very own team, The Pink Brigade. It includes members of the Her.ie team as well as some of our beloved readers (you can join us by clicking here). And it’s all in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, which does lots of work for those affected by cancer.

One of those people is Jen Hunt from Mayo. She was diagnosed with endometrial, or uterine, cancer when she was just 22-years-old.

Thankfully with the support of the ICS and of course the necessary treatment, she got through it and now does lots of fundraising to help others in a similar position. We caught up with her to talk about her own journey and why spreading the work and raising money is so important.

Jennifer, tell us about your experience with cancer.

I was diagnosed with endometrial, commonly known as uterine, cancer in April 2010. It’s a highly rare form of cancer and as well I was only 22. It’s usually found in women who are post-menopausal.

It took a long time for them to diagnose it as well. I was sick for a year and a half beforehand. When they diagnosed it I went in for a hysterectomy in June and then I had my ovaries removed. I also had six week of radiotherapy as well as four sessions of chemotherapy.

My treatment was actually quite quick. Within eight months it was all done and dusted but they had to move quickly because at the time of diagnosis I was already at stage three so they feared that the cancer might spread elsewhere.

What made you want to get involved with the ICS?

Well I was working as a nurse before I got sick but then I became too sick to work so I moved back home to Mayo and found myself at a bit of a loose end. When I was getting treatment I wasn’t all that sick with the treatments so I decided to volunteer in a shop which was advertising for help.

But then I was contacted by Justin McDermott, the ICS Community Fundraiser, and he asked if I would like to organise the Pink Ribbon Collection in Castlebar because they didn’t have one. From then on we kept in touch.

When I finished my treatment I found that all the support groups had a much older age group and everyone either had prostate or breast cancer. Then I got an email to see if I wanted to get involved in the youth groups as well as the Relay For Life so I jumped at the chance.

I’ve really made a lot of friends through the ICS. During my treatment I also used a lot of their services including the Look Good Feel Good day they used to have. It was a day of pampering so it was more than welcome! The ICS are great. It really does help, when you’re in that position, to meet others in a similar position.

How important are events such as the mini marathon in terms of awareness?

Anything that spreads awareness is hugely important and is really needed. I think the statistics for cancer is going up and to be honest it’s something that you need to start thinking about early.

When I was 22 I didn’t think it would happen to me and then I thought if it ever does happen, I’ll be old. That’s why activities which are fun and include the young, such as the marathon or the relay, are fantastic.

 

Find out more about this year's Flora Women's Mini Marathon click here.