'My fate would have been so different' says Co Tyrone woman after life-saving cancer screen

A Co Tyrone woman has opened up about how she owes her life to a local breast screening service as she urged other women to book a mammogram.

Sharon McCrory, 45, is a Radiographer’s Assistant at Craigavon Area Hospital. She is married to Paul and lives in Pomeroy, with two dogs, Rory and Bella. A keen outdoor swimmer, Sharon was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2023, following a routine mammogram with Action Cancer.

When Sharon turned 40 she saw an advert that the Action Cancer Big Bus was coming to Augher GAA Club. She booked herself a mammogram in June 2019.

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“The Big Bus is a fantastic service, bringing breast screenings to women like me living in rural areas. I found the mammogram to be slightly uncomfortable but not painful. I was pleased when the results came back as clear, it was good to get the peace of mind that everything was okay,” she said.

Fast forward to 2023 and Sharon had just started a new job working in the CT scan department in the area of cancer diagnostics. “This is what put it in my head that I really should book another mammogram with Action Cancer. I knew that I was eligible to book another screening every two years while in my 40s, but the Covid pandemic and life just got in the way, and I hadn’t made it a priority.

“I looked online and there were no Big Bus locations coming up in my area but then I saw you could avail of the screening at Action Cancer House in Belfast. I decided to book an appointment in Belfast and I’m so glad I did because I could have easily put it off even further.”

Sharon recalled attending her appointment one Friday in June after work: “I was in and out in 20 minutes and the staff were just lovely. I went on my way and didn’t think any more of it.”

One-week later Sharon received a letter to say something had been detected and further investigation was required: “I checked my breasts and I couldn’t feel anything so I wasn’t overly concerned, I thought it was maybe just a cyst or something.”

Sharon attended the Breast Clinic at Belfast City Hospital where she had a Triple Assessment. Firstly, a physical exam (where the Consultant couldn’t find anything), then an ultrasound and biopsy where something was detected in the right breast.

“I started work that day (I was working in the same hospital at the time) and told my colleague I’d be back in half an hour. I went on my own thinking I was coming straight back to work. How wrong I was.”

That day Sharon was sat down and told that she had breast cancer in the right breast, Grade 2 Invasive. Sharon would need surgery - a lumpectomy within a month and then this would be followed by radiotherapy, and chemotherapy was possibly also needed, depending on whether the cancer had spread.

She recalled: “I was completely and utterly shocked. The doctor said ‘were you not expecting this news?’ and I told him no in my head. I had come up with the diagnosis and it was a fibroadenoma or a cyst. I had been googling and diagnosing myself. I travelled home to Pomeroy from Belfast, phoned my husband, my mother and sister. My family were incredibly supportive and helped me process what was going on.”

Sharon had her surgery in September and lymph nodes were removed for testing. She was very relieved to learn that the cancer had not spread and that she wouldn’t need chemotherapy.

A second surgery was required to remove more of the margin around the tumour. Both were day procedures and the recovery was okay although Sharon had some pain after the second surgery. Sharon began radiography treatment in October. For two weeks her husband, family and friends took it in turns to drive Sharon up to Belfast to receive ten sessions of radiotherapy to stop the cancer from spreading further.

“I had terrible fatigue as a side effect and experienced a few bad burns which had to be treated. It was really hard going but at least I didn’t have to face chemo as well. I had no choice, I just had to get through it. The day I rang the bell at the City Hospital, I was exhausted but so relieved that the treatment was over,” she said.

Sharon says she is now on Tamoxifen for five years and is under review annually: “I knew the day I was diagnosed that I was so fortunate that it was caught early so I’ve always tried to stay positive. If it hadn’t been for Action Cancer offering this service, my fate would have been so different. I wasn’t due to have my first mammogram with the NHS until I was 50.

“I know I should have, but I never checked my breasts so I don’t think I would have found a lump. It’s so important to check yourself routinely but also don’t just come for one mammogram at Action Cancer thinking that’s me, I’m okay. You should come every two years for your mammograms and don’t put it at the bottom of your to-do list.

“Don’t think cancer will never happen to you because that’s what I thought. Action Cancer saved my life. Without this charity offering this service, I believe I’d be terminally ill today. I’d like to encourage as many women as possible to book their appointment. My twin sister, cousins and friends have since gone for mammograms. It’s nothing to be afraid of, it’s free and it could save your life.

“I had been through a lot physically especially with the burns but with cancer there is a great mental strain. I have received counselling through Charis and Action Cancer offers this invaluable service as well. I really missed my sea swimming while undergoing surgery and treatment. It was not advised due to risk of infection.

“I was delighted to do a sea dip in Co Wicklow on New Year’s Day in 2024. I was so emotional, putting 2023 behind me and moving forward into a new year and a new start. It was so good to get back into the water,” she added.

Sharon returned to work in February 2024 with a new role in Craigavon. “It’s been really helpful for my head to be back to work and I’m thoroughly enjoying it and love my weekends with my husband, dogs and travelling around in our campervan. I am so thankful to Paul and my family and friends for the incredible support they provided me with throughout my journey.

“My message to you is to enjoy life more, do the things you want to do because life is too short. Prioritise your health and wellbeing and ladies if you’re in your 40s or over the age of 70 then book that mammogram today!”

To celebrate International Women’s Day, and in partnership with online car insurance company its4women, Action Cancer has released 100 additional breast screening appointments and is encouraging women to book their screening slot online.

The theme for International Women's Day on Saturday, March 8 is ‘Accelerate Action’ and the charity will be opening its doors on this day to mark the occasion with a special breast screening clinic at Action Cancer House in Belfast with 25 appointments available. The breast screening service is free to the user but each appointment costs the charity £120.

Action Cancer offers 8,000 breast screening appointments per year to women aged 40-49 and over 70 — those who fall outside the NHS screening age range (50 – 70). The free life-saving service is available both at Action Cancer House in Belfast and on board the Big Bus mobile screening unit (kindly supported by SuperValu and Centra) which travels to over 200 locations each year. For every 1,000 screenings, Action Cancer detects six breast cancers.

Action Cancer recently replaced its two Mammography units (which had come to the end of their life-cycle), with the newest version of the technology. The new Siemens B.Brilliant Mammography units are now in place at Action Cancer House and on board the Big Bus.

Donna Kelly, who heads up the X-ray department at the charity, said: “As we always like to be ahead of the curve at Action Cancer, we are very proud to say that these are the first of these new systems to be installed on the island of Ireland. After extensive medical testing both machines are now in use and helping to save lives through breast screening in Northern Ireland.

“Now that we have these new units installed, we need ongoing support for the running costs to ensure we can continue to offer life-saving breast screenings to local women across Northern Ireland. This is why we are so grateful to local online car insurance company its4women for the match funding provided through the Breast Friends campaign.”

Women aged 40-49 and 70+ can book an appointment online at www.actioncancer.org or by phone on 028 9080 3344.

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