Balancing Sixteen Rounds of Chemotherapy with a University College Cork Master’s Thesis
In a personal essay published by RSVP Live, Elizabeth Osagie-Alli details how she balanced sixteen rounds of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, and twenty-five rounds of radiotherapy with completing her postgraduate studies at University College Cork. Diagnosed in January 2022 after discovering a lump in her right breast in October 2021, Osagie-Alli argues that breast cancer is widely misunderstood as a hereditary-only condition and urges women to perform monthly self-examinations. The adult educator and part-time lecturer, who lives in Cork with her family, was diagnosed in her late 40s after noticing a small lump that had grown larger by December. She stated to RSVP Live that she initially was not scared or worried because she believed the condition was strictly hereditary, adding that her general practitioner referred her to Cork University Hospital for a triple assessment where her consultant informed her she had triple-negative breast cancer less than three weeks later. Following her initial treatment, she was placed on chemotherapy tablets for an additional six months.
Confronting the Social Stigma of Illness Within the Black Community
Osagie-Alli writes that the social stigma attached to cancer within the Black community creates severe psychological burdens during treatment. She explains that community beliefs often attribute illnesses to curses, witchcraft, punishments for sins, or a lack of faith, which discourages open discussion until a person dies.
“I feared people’s opinion of me in my black community as much as I feared the scary treatment of cancer,” she writes in RSVP Live, adding that she struggled with how others would view her.
Overcoming Severe Physical Side Effects to Graduate with First-Class Honours
Despite experiencing severe physical side effects, including hair loss, mobility issues, and difficulty holding a pen, Osagie-Alli submitted her thesis one month after her surgery and graduated with a Master’s Degree from University College Cork. She notes that the rigorous academic program served as her motivation during a period when her confidence reached an all-time low. Support from family, friends, faith, and Iris House Cork Cancer Support helped restore her confidence through life-coaching and alternative therapies.
Screening Gaps, Dense Breast Tissue, and Proactive Monthly Checks
Osagie-Alli highlights that because research shows many Black women present with breast cancer before age 50, they do not qualify for routine breast screening under the Health Service Executive in Ireland and require proactive monthly checks. Furthermore, she advises women with dense breasts to request secondary scans during mammograms, noting that standard mammography alone cannot always detect the presence of the disease.
Anyone seeking guidance can contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line on freephone 1800 200 700 or email supportline@irishcancer.ie, alongside local services provided by Iris House Cork Cancer Support.