This Sunday marks the thirty ninth annual VHI Women’s Mini Marathon occasion and although the race will happen just about this yr, 1000’s of girls throughout Eire are gearing up for his or her 10k and elevating important funds for Irish charities.
Amongst them is 24 yr previous Emma Muldowney, who’s elevating cash for the Irish Cancer Society. The Dubliner shall be operating with 20 of her mates close to her residence in Dalkey on the day, to mark precisely one yr since she went into hospital with abdomen ache — and later left with a most cancers analysis.
“Earlier than final yr, I used to be simply your typical 23 yr previous. I had no well being issues in any respect. Then I began to not really feel nice in August 2020. I used to be drained and had some abdomen ache nevertheless it did not really feel like something too severe. It went away once more,” Emma says.
“However then in the future in September it got here again and I out of the blue had this actually sharp stomach ache. I knew right away it was severe as a result of I could not stroll. We went to the hospital and I used to be admitted. They weren’t positive what it was however they might see a big mass on my proper aspect. I had surgical procedure and so they examined the mass and that is once they realised it was a really uncommon type of most cancers.”
A month after her surgical procedure, Emma was identified with Dysgerminoma, a sort of ovarian most cancers that solely accounts for two% of instances and is most typical for girls underneath age 30. She had by no means heard of the situation earlier than her analysis.
“It was only a whirlwind. I assumed that once they examined the mass it was going to be high-quality as a result of that was the probably case. You by no means take into consideration getting most cancers younger. I had by no means even heard of this type of it,” she says.
“It was a very massive shock however I used to be fortunate as a result of it was identified at stage one. I did endure chemotherapy from December to February to verify it didn’t unfold although and that was exhausting. It was fairly an intense regime. I needed to be admitted to the hospital for per week at a time to have it.”
Emma says that Christmas was a very tough time to be out and in of the hospital. As a consequence of Covid-19, she couldn’t have any guests and needed to be notably cautious due to her weakened immune system.
“It takes all your power and I misplaced all of my hair. It took me three months to get well from the surgical procedure as effectively. While you’re younger, you don’t know what it feels wish to have such an absence of power. It actually was the toughest half. Some days I couldn’t even carry up my cellphone to reply a name. It was loopy,” she says.
“Nevertheless it’s additionally loopy how rapidly it comes again. While you’re going by way of it, it could look like it’s by no means going to get higher and also you lose religion in your physique however a whole lot of the time it does get higher.
Highlighting this was one more reason that Emma needed to do the mini-marathon this week. She needed to indicate others that it’s doable to run once more, simply six months after ending chemotherapy in her case. Whereas doing so, she has additionally raised €14,300 for the Irish Most cancers Society, with the assistance of her mates.
“I used among the Irish Most cancers Society’s companies whereas I used to be going by way of every thing,” Emma says. “It’s so necessary to have these companies, just like the counselling helplines, as a result of the psychological struggles are big when you’ve gotten most cancers. Hopefully, among the cash raised might help folks going by way of all of it.”
Emma has so much to have a good time after the race this weekend. She acquired her second clear scan this week and can also be about to start out a brand new job with Accenture, having completed her masters diploma in administration consultancy whereas she went by way of chemotherapy.
“I appreciated having one thing else occurring in my life moreover therapy. It was a motive to rise up and attempt to hold going,” she says.
“Every thing is actually optimistic now. The most cancers is unlikely to come back again and every thing goes nice. Simply with the ability to do that run reveals so much.”
The previous yr has modified Emma’s perspective on life in some ways.
“Now I am simply so grateful for my well being each single day. It is given me an entire new appreciation for all of the small issues in life. I feel all of it simply goes to indicate that it’s so value getting one thing checked in the event you’re frightened, it doesn’t matter what age you might be.”
