Colm's story: NCT your health

I've been aware of Movember for some time, but in recent years it has resonated on a more personal level, because my Aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. When cancer comes into your own family the impact of it all immediately sinks in. You often hear similar stories and it makes you think how terrible it must be both emotionally and physically. It’s a lot for anyone to go through but you never expect it to knock on your own family’s door.

Knowing how

At the start I didn’t really know how to approach it. I found myself trying to avoid the situation and the emotions that came with it. Initially I was worried that if I started a conversation about it that not only would I worry and upset myself further, but also my other family members. You never get any training on the topic so it can be hard to know how to approach it.

As time passed I began to talk with my aunt more and reassured her that she was doing her best by following the medical advice given to her. Ultimately, that’s all she could do in that situation. I think it was important to support her in that way as best I could.

I realized it was better to have open conversations about it rather than avoiding the topic and leaving her isolated.

Having Cancer must be a very isolating experience so reaching out to the person to let them know that you’re there for them and that they’re doing their best is really important I think.

Community & exercise

I found that exercise was something that really helped me through that time. I think the aspect of community that comes with being involved in a sport or a running club can help to support you both physically and mentally. Being physically active plays a big role in my life for sure. Getting yourself involved in a club is a great way to meet new people and become more socially active in your community whilst also getting all of the positive benefits of being physically active. For instance, I joined a boxing club in Dublin earlier this year and I’ve met so many new people, it’s been great. I think this is especially important for people who are isolated or are struggling mentally so it’s something I’d certainly advocate for.

NCT your health

My aunt was very lucky in that she was diagnosed quite early and thankfully she has now come out the other side of it. If I was to say anything about this from my own experience it would be to get checked by a doctor as soon as you notice anything wrong or abnormal. Don’t be afraid to advocate for your own health. I know so many people who would look after their car so much better than themselves. We don’t usually do a yearly NCT on our own health but we would on our car which is mad when you actually think about it.

Lets open up the conversation

I think it’s important to be a good role model for the younger generation in terms of looking after our health and being able to have these open conversations. Similarly I think the older generation can learn from the younger generation too. For example, I had conversations with my grandfather and Uncle at various stages about my Aunt’s diagnosis. I worried they might have been avoiding it a bit like I had been at the start.

Perhaps these conversations allowed them to open up a bit more and feel more comfortable about discussing the topic. It can be even harder for the older generation I think to have these conversations so it’s important to be brave when approaching difficult topics. You never know the positive impact voicing your opinion could have on everyone around you.

If you know someone with Cancer try to have conversations with them around it once you feel ready to. Don’t be afraid to bring it up in conversation. You never know how much it could help the person going through it.