Daffodil Diaries - Mary Woods

“My GP referred me to a gynaecologist about it, and tests showed I had a contained cancer in my womb."

“There is an extra difficulty that comes with going through cancer when you are living alone. Living on my own, I was frightened, and I was very unsure of how I would cope with the diagnosis and treatment. But the great support of family and friends was there for me as and when I needed it.”

When Mary Woods, 68, noticed some blood spotting in March 2020, she was concerned and wanted to find out what was causing it.

“I noticed some blood showing when I wiped after using the toilet,” says Mary, who lives in Co. Clare. “My GP referred me to a gynaecologist about it, and tests showed I had a contained cancer in my womb. It was horrible, I was speechless when they told me. It was a shock, I could not process it. 

“I had no other symptoms whatsoever, apart from the blood showing. I had a hysterectomy, and then I went for radiotherapy. It was during Covid, which added difficulties which added to isolation."

Mary finished her treatment in November 2020, and all was going well, until the following April when she started to experience problems with tiredness and a high temperature. She went to hospital three times to try to find out what was wrong, and on her third visit the consultant told her they would keep her as an in-patient until they knew what was causing her issues.

“Two weeks later, they discovered a large growth in my bowel,” she says. “A couple of stray cells from the womb cancer made their way to the bowel. Then I had an operation on my bowel – I now have a permanent stoma – and chemotherapy followed, which I finished in January 2022. Since then, my scans have thankfully come some back clear. Taking one day at a time was how I got through this cancer journey.”

"I was able to say what I liked to the counsellor, in a positive way, because I didn’t have to hold back in way that I might’ve had to with my family"

Mary’s operations and treatments for both cancers were carried out in University Hospital Limerick, and she praises the staff for their care and attention during her time there. “UHL was fantastic, the care given by the staff was great and they answered every question I had.”

After both of her cancer diagnoses, Mary found the Irish Cancer Society’s counselling service to be an invaluable outlet for her to share her thoughts and feelings.

“I did a counselling after my first and second diagnoses. I was able to say what I liked to the counsellor, in a positive way, because I didn’t have to hold back in way that I might’ve had to with my family, because I didn’t want to overload them. I found it very worthwhile. You don’t feel like you’re a burden when you’re talking to them, there was a sense of freedom when I spoke to them – it was great to have that.”

“When my second scan came back clear in 2022, I celebrated by having a tea party in my house to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society."

A strong supporter of the work of the Irish Cancer Society, Mary is a Daffodil Day seller and organiser in her hometown of Newmarket-on-Fergus and is part of a hard-working group of sellers who have raised thousands of euro over the years. She also marked her second clear scan after her second cancer diagnosis by holding a tea party in her house to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society.

“When my second scan came back clear in 2022, I celebrated by having a tea party in my house to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. I raised around €1,800. My house was packed, and it was astonishing to see the support of the many who generously donated – the Irish Cancer Society means a lot to a lot of people.”

Daffodil Day 2022 also proved to be impactful for Mary, as when she was out selling daffodils she was inspired by a friend.

“There was a woman I knew who donated on the day, and she had really short hair. I asked someone else why, and they said she had shaved her hair off to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. Her hair was about as short as mine was under the wig, so that evening when I went home, I threw the wig up on the shelf and haven’t worn it since.

Mary lived alone throughout her treatments and while she had the support of her brothers, neighbours and friends, she still spent a lot of time alone as her treatments were during the pandemic and she didn’t have immediate family to lean on. She has some advice for people who are also going through treatment while living alone with limited support.

“When my second scan came back clear in 2022, I celebrated by having a tea party in my house to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. I raised around €1,800. My house was packed, and it was astonishing to see the support of the many who generously donated – the Irish Cancer Society means a lot to a lot of people.”

“Thank you to all who helped and supported me through my cancer journey.”

“I asked friends to support me in different ways: one went through the wig journey with me, others were there for a walk, support, talk etc. I found people were very willing to help. Setting up a support system made asking for help and support doable.”

When asked what she would say to someone who may have spotted a worrying symptom but is unsure about getting it checked out, Mary says: “If you think something’s not normal, you should get it checked out. It’s better to get things checked out and find out either way if they’re positive or negative. And don’t open a computer and google things – you can’t research your own situation. Your own experience is individual to you.”

She adds: “Thank you to all who helped and supported me through my cancer journey.”