CASTLETOWNBERE woman Isabel O’Donovan knew from the look on her consultant’s face that something was seriously wrong, when she went to get a lump in her breast checked out in September 2024. 

Isabel had discovered the lump during a routine self-examination the previous month, and admits that naively she had thought it absolutely had to be a ‘thing of nothing.’

Why? The mum-of-two had already been treated for breast cancer in 2011.

‘I’d had a full mastectomy and reconstruction at the time. The lump I found in September was in almost the exact same place and I just presumed the illness couldn’t come back, but I soon found out I was wrong,’ said Isabel. 

A biopsy confirmed her worst fears: it was the same grade of cancer, at the same stage, in practically the same place. 

‘I had been hoping against hope, and initially it was all very hard to take it in – I mean what are the chances?’ said Isabel. 

‘For my first diagnosis I was very naïve, but this time I knew what was coming down the tracks and that made it a lot harder,’ she admits. ‘But the silver lining was that it was detected early, and it was localised. I really was haunted lucky,’ said the 49-year-old, who previously ran the popular Issie’s Handmade Chocolate.

Chemotherapy began in November 2024, every three weeks, followed by surgery last March.

Considering that it’s a four hour round trip from Castletownbere to CUH, and that there were lots of GP visits for blood tests to determine if she was well enough for the treatment, that in the middle of treatment her veins collapsed and she needed surgery for a port to be inserted, it’s understandable how breast cancer monopolised her life. 

It was a cycle of preparing for treatment, having treatment and recovering from it. And, unfortunately, there was a further hurdle facing Isabel. 

‘At the end of the treatment, they removed some tissues to analyse the situation and they found residual cancer cells. I didn’t get the all clear. I won’t lie, that was rough. I thought I was out the gap but this meant even more chemo – 14 further rounds, every three weeks.’

Isabel only finally finished chemotherapy last February 18th, after a year and a half of gruelling treatment.

In 2011, her treatment lasted over a year – she’s lost a lot of time to breast cancer treatment but Isabel is far more of a glass half full person. 

‘There were times I was very sick, literally on the flat of my back from the treatment, but I knew that it wouldn’t last long,’ she reflected. ‘I never look back, am always focused on enjoying today and looking ahead, planning things to look forward to. 

‘I kept myself busy and continued to work – I’m the manager at Bantry Garden Centre – except on the days I was very sick; I’m part of my local choir, I enjoy gardening and my horse Charlie who I ride out every chance I get. It’s really important for me to get out and to stay active.’

Isabel working in the garden

Isabel was in the best shape of her life when she got her first diagnosis, showing the indiscriminate nature of cancer: ‘I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I’m fit. I do everything the experts tell me to do and yet I got cancer twice but I’ve never let it defeat me,’ she said. 

‘There was never a chance I was going to give up and the support I got from family, my husband Dave and boys Tom and Josh, friends and the whole community helped in that regard.

‘If I’ve the odd low day, I let it out and get on with things again. I tell myself that I’m one of the lucky ones in that I get to fight this so I stay positive.’

Isabel was further diagnosed with malignant melanoma on her left shoulder at the time of her first breast cancer diagnosis in July 2011. 

‘Again, this was caught very early. I’m a great believer in knowing your body, being aware of any changes and speaking up to your doctor and getting things checked. I’m proof that early detection is key,’ she said. 

Now that she’s finished her treatment, she admits she’s allowing things ‘hit’ her. 

‘All along I was in survival mode, and now it’s almost ‘what just happened?’  I hate uncertainty and once I had my treatment plans I was able to focus on that as I knew where I was going. But now I can appreciate what I’ve come through and it is a bit emotional to reflect on things. The mental battle is as much a thing as the physical one but the thing is to drive on, and I’m a very practical and positive person. Ask for help if you feel yourself going down. Personally, I’ve never once seen myself as a victim in this or thought ‘why me?’

In 2026 alone, an estimated 44,000 people will receive a cancer diagnosis in Ireland. 

Isabel is sharing her story ahead of this year’s Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day which takes place on Friday, March 20th. 

The Irish Cancer Society typically receives only 5% of its income from the Government, so they rely on the public’s generosity, and Isabel urged people to give what they can. 

For example in 2025, public support provided over 3,200 free lifts to bring Cork-based cancer patients to their treatment; over 2,000 free counselling sessions for people living in Cork; over 430 nights of free Night Nursing care to allow cancer patients in Cork to die at home surrounded by loved ones  and cancer nurses had over 2,800 conversations with people from Cork on their support line and in Daffodil Centres.

Irish Cancer Society Acting CEO Edel Shovlin said: ’Cancer doesn’t wait — and neither can we. This year, thousands of people in Ireland will hear the words, ‘You have cancer’. Behind every diagnosis is a person, a family, a future suddenly filled with uncertainty. But this Daffodil Day, there is also determination, compassion and ground-breaking research driving real progress  – Daffodil Day 2026 is about turning solidarity into action.’

Isabel concluded: ‘I’m not worried about the future and just think what will be will be. I feel very lucky to be alive, every day I appreciate being here, living in such a safe and beautiful place, and being part of such a supportive community. But my big message is to keep an eye on your body, early detection is key. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.’