\u201cI just couldn\u2019t believe it and was on autopilot as I began the journey up and down from Laois to Cork for appointments and scans. On September 7th I had a biopsy so they could see what kind of tumour it was and then when scans revealed that it was very close to my heart, they decided that the safest thing to do was to remove most of my right lung. It was a gamble, but I remember feeling almost blas\u00e9 and saying, \u2018Yeah, whatever, just do it\u2019. But my husband was more cautious and asked lots of questions. They told me that it was a case of live or die, and said that I had a 50-50 chance of survival. So although the odds were not great, I said that I wanted to go for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Laois woman was put on a waiting list and, very soon afterwards, got a call to say that there was a bed available the following day. \u201cI remember thinking, Oh my God, this is happening, and packed my bag in a daze. I wasn\u2019t really aware of what was going on, and was sort of on autopilot, just going with the flow. I had prepped my children [aged 15-30] as we had promised we would hide nothing from them, and it was very hard ringing my daughter in Australia and the other in Liverpool because they were not at home. We told them all not to panic and if there was anything to worry about, we would tell them, but it was going ahead. <\/p>\n
![\"Samantha](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/V72SANV54NDPTKS522S3YHNBIA.jpg\")
Samantha Vaughan in hospital <\/p>\n
\u201cThankfully, the surgery was a success, even though I was in ICU for four nights instead of one because I felt very bad afterwards. During surgery they took the top and middle section of my right lung, some lymph nodes and an airway. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was left with the lower part of my right lung, which meant that I had difficulty breathing and needed to learn how to breathe again. And when they tested what they had removed, they discovered that I had a mutation which means that, although the cancer is completely gone from my body, I have a high chance of it coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n
[\u00a0Seamus Cotter had few lung cancer symptoms. \u2018The diagnosis was a bit of a surprise\u2019Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Vaughan, who works as an area manager in the retail sector, was discharged after two weeks. She agreed to take part in a targeted treatment study, which she has been on for the past two years. She is tested every six months and so far continues to be in remission. However, she can only stay on the medication for three years, \u201cdue to the cost\u201d, and is hoping to be able to avail of another treatment after. <\/p>\n In the meantime, despite suffering with a number of related symptoms such as fatigue, upset stomach, ulcers and continued breathing difficulties, she is cancer free. And, although the treatment is \u201cextremely hard\u201d at times, she is back at work. <\/p>\n \u201cMentally, I felt that I needed to start working again, I wanted to get a bit of me back. However, having said that, the old Samantha is gone and I have to learn to live like the new Samantha, who is more restricted in what she can do. Mentally, I\u2019m getting there, but physically it is still a bit of a struggle as I get very breathless and although I don\u2019t have to carry oxygen around, I do have an inhaler and have to make sure I plan my day accordingly.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I also try to push myself out of my comfort zone as well and each year for my anniversary [of my diagnosis], I try to do something challenging. The first year I climbed Croagh Patrick and the next I did the Stairway to Heaven [Cuilcagh mountain in Co Fermanagh]. I just want to know that I can do these things. <\/p>\n \u201cOf course, I do have to take lots of medication to enable me to do it and afterwards I\u2019ve had issues with blood pressure and pain because there was a lot of nerve damage after the surgery, but that\u2019s just a small issue and things are never going to be perfect, but I can get some of myself back.\u201d<\/p>\n November is Lung Cancer Awareness month. Every year almost 2,600 people are diagnosed with the disease in Ireland. It is the fourth most common cancer in the country, and while a very serious form of cancer, early diagnosis can make all the difference.<\/p>\n Vaughan says that although she has no idea where she gets her energy from, she just wants to get as much from life as possible and this involves trying to spread awareness on lung cancer as there \u201cis absolutely nothing in this country\u201d to help people who are going through the disease. And \u201capart from charities like the Irish Cancer Society, a lot more needs to be done to help people with rehabilitation\u201d.<\/p>\n With this in mind, she would encourage others with lung cancer to \u2018speak up\u2019 and not be afraid to ask for help \u2013 and if they think that something is wrong but feel they are not being taken seriously, they should ask for a second opinion. \u201cI always tell people to follow their gut,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to be your own advocate, and if you feel there\u2019s something not right, get it checked. There is a mistaken thought that only people who smoke get lung cancer, but basically anyone who has lungs can get lung cancer.<\/p>\n \u201cThe other thing I would say to people is that they should try to always be positive about things, because if you\u2019re being positive, it sends a positive message to your body and gives you a kind of strength to heal too. Just remember that there is hope out there.\u201d<\/p>\n Lung cancer key points<\/p>\n Symptoms <\/p>\n![\"Samantha](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/5LLDJGBX5BCMHAYO36JOQ67PPI.jpg\")
Samantha Vaughan on holiday <\/p>\n\n
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