{"id":293522,"date":"2026-01-20T07:10:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T07:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/293522\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T07:10:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T07:10:07","slug":"it-was-awful-watching-my-mum-get-really-upset-then-having-to-tell-my-husband-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/293522\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018It was awful watching my mum get really upset, then having to tell my husband\u2019 \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most people have experienced symptoms of coronavirus over the past few years, so when Ilana Hastings had feelings of breathlessness after recovering from the virus in July 2024, she thought that she might have long Covid<\/a>. As a seasoned runner, she was also surprised that, before this, she had been getting out of breath on a regular basis and didn\u2019t seem as fit as she had been in the past.<\/p>\n

She put it down to being tired and stressed.<\/p>\n

But the symptoms persisted, and, in January 2025, she went to see her GP, who ordered blood tests, which came back normal. She was prescribed a Symbicort inhaler in the hope that this would help, but, while there was some improvement, she was still getting out of breath. So, in March, she went back to her doctor, who referred her for a chest X-ray and a lung function test \u2013 the results of which were very unexpected.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter my X-ray, I was told to go to A&E<\/a> as some of the results were abnormal. After ruling out a chest infection and tuberculosis, they kept me in so I could see the respiratory consultant the next morning,\u201d she says. \u201cI had a sleepless night with a lot of scenarios running through my head, including cancer<\/a>, which I hoped it wasn\u2019t as no one had mentioned it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I saw the consultant, the working theory was sarcoidosis, and I was referred for a CT scan and a lung function test.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarcoidosis is a condition that causes tiny collections of immune system cells. These form swollen lumps called granulomas, which commonly occur in the lungs and the lymph nodes of the chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had never heard of sarcoidosis before but was relieved that it wasn\u2019t cancer, even though I knew it hadn\u2019t been ruled out and the only way to do so was a biopsy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 44-year-old, who lives in Dublin with her husband and two sons, was discharged and, over the next few months, underwent a series of tests and a CT-guided biopsy to get the final result \u2013 which, to her shock, was incurable lung cancer. <\/p>\n

\"TheThe Irish Cancer Society launched an initiative last year for a mobile lung health check scheme at Croke Park, a first-of-its-kind pilot clinical trial in Ireland, which seeks to catch lung cancer at a much earlier stage. Photograph: Chris Maddaloni <\/p>\n

\u201cI was told that my cancer was incurable and because it is in all lobes of the lungs, it isn\u2019t operable,\u201d she says. \u201cMy initial reaction was shock, and trying to think of sensible questions to ask the respiratory consultant. It was awful watching my mum, who came with me, get really upset, and then having to tell my husband. Only high-level information was available at this stage, as the histology was still being carried out, but I did know it was incurable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe next couple of weeks were quite intense, waiting to get a Pet\/CT scan to see if it had spread, waiting to see an oncologist, and then starting targeted treatment immediately and chemotherapy the following week. My husband took a few weeks off work so that we could try and process everything together and we spent most of those weeks walking many kilometres to tire ourselves out so we could sleep well at night. Support in many forms from friends and family also helped to keep me going. Physically, I didn\u2019t feel too bad, but mentally it was really tough. I cried a lot.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has only been a few months since the diagnosis so it\u2019s still fairly new. I\u2019ve been to counselling at ARC [Cancer Support Centre] twice, which has helped \u2013 but I have wobbles frequently enough. Practical things like getting enough sleep and exercise help, as does support from those around me. Every little message cheers you up a bit. We also got a puppy, which is a great distraction, although I\u2019ll be happy when she stops chewing everything.\u201d <\/p>\n

[\u00a0Lung cancer: \u2018I was 47 at the time, and the only person in my family who has never smoked\u2019Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

As a nonsmoker with no relatives having ever had lung cancer, the mother of two, who is originally from Australia, was told that due to the fact the cancer was widespread, neither surgery nor radiation were an option. She started a course of treatment shortly after diagnosis, which she is still on and finding tough.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cancer is EGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) positive so I can take targeted treatment in the form of a daily tablet,\u201d she says. \u201cI also have chemotherapy every three weeks. The first four rounds were with two drugs, which was a bit tough, and now I\u2019m on a maintenance dose of one drug, which will continue indefinitely along with the targeted tablet as long as it is effective. I will have a scan every three months to monitor any changes. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe first two rounds of chemotherapy were fairly tolerable, but the third and fourth caught up with me as the side effects are cumulative \u2013 it wasn\u2019t too bad, but I was quite tired and emotional. The targeted tablet and maintenance dose are pretty tolerable, and luckily I don\u2019t have many side effects \u2013 so if it could remain effective forever I would be very happy. <\/p>\n

\u201cI am starting to feel more like myself again now that the initial tougher chemotherapy had finished, and the treatment is working well so I am much less out of breath, both of which make it easier to feel positive, or at least not think about it all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Athlete Ciara Mageean thankful for \u2018kind words of support\u2019 during cancer treatmentOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Ilana, who is an architect, says scans have shown that the treatment is working well, but it is difficult to know what the future will hold. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem is that at some point the cancer will develop resistance and at present there are limited further options,\u201d she says. \u201cThis is why funding and research are so important, as at present I feel like a sitting duck. Notwithstanding some sort of cure being the goal, if there were more treatment options it would greatly improve the chances of being able to successfully hold the lung cancer under control for a longer period of time, almost like a chronic disease, which is already possible with some other types of cancer. <\/p>\n

\u201cNo one knows how long the current treatment might continue to work or when resistance might start to develop, and what form the new cancer cells may take, and apart from keeping myself otherwise fit and healthy, it is something I have no control over. Both these things are quite difficult to manage mentally.\u201d<\/p>\n

While still trying to come to terms with her diagnosis, Ilana would encourage others to seek medical advice if they experience any concerns. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s worth getting any unusual symptoms checked, even if there appears to be a logical explanation,\u201d she says. \u201cOnce referred, chest X-rays are often on a walk-in basis and only take a minute, so asking your GP about them would be worthwhile, even if you don\u2019t have typical risk factors. My only initial symptom was getting out of breath \u2013 and even then only while I was running \u2013 although I did get a lot more colds and coughs than usual last winter. <\/p>\n

\"IlanaIlana Hastings: ‘There are plenty of people getting lung cancer even though they\u2019ve never smoked and are otherwise fit and healthy’ <\/p>\n

\u201cHaving said that, while my cancer may have been less extensive if I had gone to the doctor earlier, I wouldn\u2019t necessarily have been in a different treatment category. It was explained to me that the lungs have a lot of spare capacity, which is why people can climb at high altitudes or have a whole lung removed and still be relatively okay, so at the point where you notice getting out of breath there is likely quite a lot of obstruction in the lungs. This is where funding and research is really important \u2013 if there are no early symptoms which mean the cancer is found relatively late, people are much more reliant on nonphysical treatment options. <\/p>\n

[\u00a0Long Covid: \u2018I\u2019m only in my 30s, but I\u2019m not the person I was in December 2020\u2032Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving a range of different options would increase the chances of the cancer being able to be held under control for longer, and if something could be done to address the resistance issue, this would be amazing, as the existing treatment I am on is working well with relatively few side effects. It would be great if it could work for much longer than it typically does. There are lots of different variations of lung cancer so obviously the more options for everyone the better.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are plenty of people getting lung cancer even though they\u2019ve never smoked and are otherwise fit and healthy \u2013 you would never dismiss any other type of cancer because you didn\u2019t smoke, such as breast or bowel cancer, so why should you dismiss lung cancer?\u201d<\/p>\n

About lung cancer<\/p>\n