Tona Clabby Discusses Stage Three Breast Cancer Diagnosis After BreastCheck Screening
In an interview with the Longford Leader, Tona Clabby details her stage three breast cancer diagnosis following a screening appointment with BreastCheck. Clabby, a Longford Town resident who turned 50 the previous year, explains that she had been busy planning her wedding and honeymoon in Santorini before receiving the national cancer screening letter in February. A mammogram in Longford led to further clinical testing and biopsies at the BreastCheck clinic in Dublin, resulting in an invasive ductal carcinoma diagnosis on May 7.
If I didn’t get that letter, I don’t know how long I would have left it, and I don’t know where I’d be now,
Clabby told the Longford Leader. She notes that the diagnosis brought immediate fears about mortality and whether she would live to see her daughter graduate from college. Just one week after receiving her diagnosis, Clabby and her husband proceeded with a scaled-back wedding ceremony at the Longford registry office, followed by a celebration with family and friends.
Chemotherapy Treatments and Upcoming Surgery in Dublin
Life after the diagnosis shifted immediately to clinical appointments, chemotherapy regimens, bloodwork, and side effects. Clabby states that she has spent four months away from her full-time job with the prison service in Longford as she deals with severe physical weakness from treatment. Having recently finished almost six months of chemotherapy, she is scheduled for scans at the Mater in Dublin to determine the precise path for her upcoming surgery.
The extent of the upcoming surgical intervention remains dependent on how the tumor responded to the chemotherapy course. Clabby explains that she expects clarity on October 22 regarding whether she will require a mastectomy or further therapies before completing her care plan around the Christmas holidays. She credits the Lark Cancer Support Centre in Multyfarnham for providing free-of-charge counseling and treatments that offer a peaceful retreat.
Criticism of National Screening Age Limits
Addressing the current parameters of Ireland’s healthcare framework, Clabby argues that the starting age threshold for the BreastCheck registry is far too old.
The national screening service currently covers women between the ages of 50 and 69, a range Clabby describes as inadequate given that younger women frequently develop the disease. She notes that when she discovered a lump six years prior to her current diagnosis, she had to pay approximately €600 out of pocket for an initial assessment, mammogram, and ultrasound.
Marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Clabby urges women to perform regular self-examinations and ensure they are registered with the national screening program. Readers can check their registration status directly at breastcheck.ie.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Tona Clabby receive her breast cancer diagnosis?
Clabby received her stage three invasive ductal carcinoma diagnosis on May 7, following a series of mammograms and biopsies conducted through the BreastCheck clinic in Dublin.
What support services does Tona Clabby credit during her recovery?
Clabby highlights the Lark Cancer Support Centre located in Multyfarnham, noting that the facility provides free counseling and therapeutic treatments for patients undergoing cancer care.
What are the age limits for the BreastCheck screening program?
The national screening service currently provides routine mammograms to women between the ages of 50 and 69, a policy Clabby has criticized for excluding younger demographics.
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