Real Health Podcast: What to do when things go ‘tits up’ with breast cancer survivor Dearbhaile O’Hare

This week on the Real Health podcast, I was joined by author of ‘Things went tits up!’ and breast cancer survivor, Dearbhaile O’Hare.

Dearbhaile was fit and healthy until 2020, then she banjaxed her back. It took her 5 months to get back to full fitness and when she did, she discovered a lump. She then got checked by her GP and got referred to a specialist.

Dearbhaile told me about the day she received her cancer diagnosis. “It was the 24th of September, I don't think you'll ever forget the date, 2021, I heard those three words, you've got cancer. It was like being in a silent movie where I could see the doctor's lips moving, but I'm hearing this white noise,” she said.

The author emphasised the importance of exercise post treatment in our conversation. "I think it would be fantastic if exercise became part of our treatment plan. You know, it's just to build you up, get back that confidence, that strength and just come back stronger after basically, the fight of your life,” she said.

Finally, I learned a lot from the breast cancer thriver about perspective and positively reframing negative events. She told me, “There's never anything so bad that you can't reframe it and turn it around into something good. If you can use your difficulty even just 1 percent to your advantage, then you didn't let it get to you.”

You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Real Health Podcast: What to do when things go ‘tits up’ with breast cancer survivor Dearbhaile O’Hare