Fighting for my life; Lydia Whelan

Ringkasan

Lydia got diagnosed with breast cancer in July of 2024 and in March 2025 was giving the all clear but that doesn't mean life goes back to normal. We discuss from getting the diagnosis until now and what the future may hold

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[Music] Okay. So, something a little bit different for me here today. Obviously, you've seen I I have delved into different areas of life and different things doing interviews as well. I spend most of my time interviewing MMA fighters or my Thai or boxers or whatever. But for me, this is one of the biggest fighters I've ever met in my life. This is Lydia Wheelen. Um, a little background to this. Me and Lydia used to work together in the cinema. Uh, 2010 Avatar. Do you remember that? >> Yeah. >> Do you remember the madness of that? >> Weekend was not unprepared us for it. >> No. I think it was it was a crash course in Do you remember the lines were going all the way down the White Water Shopping Center and then and then it calmed down after that. But me and Lydia, we worked there for a couple of years together. Um, it was actually a great place socially. We used to go out every once again. We didn't go out in like a small group. We went out with like 20 of us at a time. It was >> It was brilliant. >> You knew when the cinema crowd was out, it was out. So, um I I not that mean Lydia would have talked that much, but I I would have told her the odd message every couple of months or seen her. She she shares the same birthday as me. So, she stole that thunder from me for years. You can have it >> cuz cuz I'm too old to care about me. Once you get past 30 for me, it doesn't matter now. When I get to 40, I'm not talking to you that day. Yeah. >> But obviously last year uh I'd seen she posted something come to attent come to my attention uh that uh she had obviously been diagnosed with cancer. She just after buying a house and and it's she's updated it throughout the year. And what I really like is >> you update the good and the bad. a lot of people especially with social media it's all about the the good like and I'm not like it's kind of I want to say 50/50 because it's not an easy road but thank you very much for joining me uh I really really do appreciate how are you today on this lovely fine day that we do have >> well thanks a million for the opportunity Dave like I really really appreciate like you just covered there we go way back when we were only young and starting out in the working industry so I really appreciate it um as you just said there it's been Uh it's been a bit of a roller coaster of a year. Um diagnosed with breast cancer July of that last year. So I'm coming up on a year being diagnosed and uh thankfully I was essentially declared cancer free back in March. So I'm getting there slowly slowly but surely. Congratulate and that that like even though you are cancer free that's still not because I still see your updates and I still see you're going you have to go to doctors and this that and the other because because there's always I I'm not sure but I'm assuming there's always a chance that it could come back or or stuff. I I don't know. I'm not an expert. I'm far from a doctor but it still boggles me like it's you're still you still question everything. Um, so like you said essentially, yeah, I am cancer free. And I'm kind of glad you said that in that sense cuz a lot of people just assume once you say that like you're over it and not prepared me for what comes afterwards. So like straight away I was it was like I was hit like high intensity wise like I was diagnosed at the end of July and I was sitting getting chemo on the 27th of August. So, I didn't have much time to wrap my head around things. Um, I actually took that week off work and I went back into work the following week and was planning on staying working up until I was getting treatment. And then I was obviously hospital appointments every day cuz you were going up for different scans to make sure it hadn't spread. So, like I had to obviously finish up work a little bit earlier. Um and then as I said started on the 27th of August. So I done 12 rounds chemo and then I had surgery in February. So I had misctomy with um full lymph no clearance and then we done done like immediate reconstruction. So then I had the recovery from that end of things and then as I was recovering from that then I was waiting and to start radiation and I finished radiation about a month ago now. So I was hit with 15 rounds of that. Um but as I just said they're not in prepared yet as to what comes afterwards. So it was 10 months of high intensity treatment. I'm still up every three weeks definitely until next year because I'm receiving um it's called her septin. So it's an injection that I received just basically says targeting the protein in the breast so it doesn't there's no chance of spreading. So it's more of a preventative measure now at this stage. Um, but there is always chance of recurrence and I've heard that a few times at appointments and stuff and I'm definitely trying to not zone in on that too much because you can and every little ache and pain that you get, you're like, "Oh god, is that it back? Is it somewhere else? What's going on?" And you question absolutely everything. But I'm definitely trying to stay with the positive side on things going well. I'm up every three weeks. I'm getting my bloods done. So, if anything's going to show up, it's going to show up in my markers. I'm getting still scans and tests and I'm still receiving her. So, I'm like essentially I'm still receiving treatment for the type of cancer I had. So, I'm trying to obviously keep that at the forefront and remind myself of that. Yeah, it's a lot to take in when when obviously I seen the post saying you were cancer free and then I'm going to say I was a bit naive to say that not that it's like boom, it's over. But then I keep I kept watching your stories. I said that card is still going through the ringer even though >> like you were cancel free. Most people think it's like you've been like set like a butterfly back out into the world. It's but it's not. It's I've seen it and I I've had talks to you and like about how like tired you get and you're sleeping and then just just the way your your body is. But I want you to take me back to to when you first found out because you and your partner Colum column or Colin Colum >> Colum yeah >> column column uh you just bought a house and that's when you found out like buying a house is a huge milestone for anybody in their life and that's a time of joy. What was it like for for this to come along? Like did it feel surreal that like did did you believe it at first? Cuz especially with your age >> like it was looking back on it like I was so upset cuz I was like did like you said it's supposed to be the happiest time of your life and I was like I've just been diagnosed with cancer. So literally the week we actually went sale agreed. I had found a lump that week and I was in the GP the following week. Um and she was like I need to refer you like you need to go to James's and they'll do a triple assessment on you. Um so that was very like right okay. So we had just went sale agreed. So obviously going through all the paperwork side of things as obviously I was taken off hospital appointments and waiting for the appointment to go up and meet with the team in James's and then I had to come back then two weeks afterwards then for the triple assessment and then waiting for the results. So as all this was going on like we were just taking things off with the house cuz like that you go agreed the ball get very like rolling very quickly. So we had loads of bits to do with dealing with sister. Everything was being done and then it came to a very quick halt when we went to get mortgage protection. It was kind of like well are you waiting for tests or scans or anything? And we were like well yeah I'm actually waiting to get like a mamogram and ultrasound. Like at the time we didn't know if I needed all them. I was like we're definitely waiting on the mamogram. I was like I could need an ultrasound. I could need a biopsy. we don't know. Um, so immediately you're like you're dealt with. Okay, well we actually can't give you a mortgage protection until you have that test done and until you get the results. So I was like right okay. So this was obviously like I said sale agreed to May like going to the end of July like we got things done very quickly in a sense of trying to get everything done for the house and then we were dealt with that halt and I was like oh god I was like right okay I was like we can't lose it. So I got in touch with obviously the estate agent and I explained what was going on and I was like look this is all we're waiting on. are ye happy enough and are they like lenders are people we're buying off I was like are they happy to wait and they were like oh we'll get in touch with them and thankfully they were like we were very lucky they were very understanding that they knew I was waiting for this so like I said the time went by very very quickly and then the day of my diagnosis like the first thing we I said to the surgeon was like can I get that in writing and they were like looking at me as if I had 10 heads. I was like, "We're trying to buy a house." And I was like, "I need to have this in writing." I was like, like we're hoping our lenders, like we were told at that time from the brokers for mortgage protection that if your lenders are willing to sign a waiver, like you could still get mortgage protection. So, we were still very much like going, "Okay, we'll get it. It's going to be okay. It's going to be fine." And then to be met on the phone with, "We cannot give you a mortgage protection. Like, you've just been diagnosed with breast cancer." And I was like, "Oh my god." I was like, "We're going to lose the house." I was like, "How are we going to do this?" Cuz obviously we were after getting the mortgage with the two of our names on it. So, we were being lent more money. And then for then Colin then to have to go on his own solely. We were then short money to buy the house. I was like, "Oh my god, we're going to lose it. going to lose it. So like the day after my diagnosis, I spent the that week on the phone. Like I was ringing brokers everywhere. Like I was on the phone all day every day. Like I obviously like digested the news but was very quickly distracted with I need to hold on to our home. I was like we're 10 years together this year. We're obviously I was like we're this is our next step. And then we were met with that and I was like it was shattering because I was like we can't lose it. So thankfully we managed to pull it off with skin of our teeth and like I said with the understanding of the people we were buying off that they waited they were very understanding why we tried to figure things out and navigate what we were going to do. So it was very like I couldn't obviously enjoy it. Like you said it's the happiest time of your life. like you bought a home together like we're me and Colin were ready for the next stage of our relationship and to be met them with like no sorry and like it was devastating. So but thankfully in the end we got there we moved in in December. I we actually moved in on a Friday and I had my last chemo on the Monday. So even like to move in like I like chemo you're definitely dealt with like memory loss. I don't remember a lot of it. I remember there was a day I had to come over here and wait for Wi-Fi to come and I was so sick. Like we literally only had the couch and I like had to bring like a blanket and a pillow from his parents' house because I was like I need to wait there for the day and I was like so sick from chemo and I didn't have an inch of hair on my head and I was like oh my god like it's complete brain fog to even then moving in and trying to do things like we relied solely on his family and our like my own family to do a lot of the things for us and I was definitely tasked with the job going that goes there, that goes there. >> It shows what a good support system around you does cuz not a lot of people would have the support system like you said with his family and your family. So, a lot of people be on on their own and >> and what I find fascinating there about what you just told me, you got diagnosed and that was the last it was a factor, but you were just like, "No, this is my house and I'm getting it." Like that that's just that's just such a different mindset cuz a lot of people >> and I don't want to sound mean or cruel when I say this. A lot of people I find when they get diagnosed with cancer a lot of people it defeats them straight away. I find yeah >> I find a lot of people >> it's like when they hear it they kind of defeat but you never really let that like you had your bad days don't get me wrong and and you spoke about that and you've you've you've talked about that on on Instagram or or wherever you may put the content. I think Facebook, but my my Facebook's gone as well. Um, but you you had your bad days, but what like why do you think you have that? You you've got such a strong strong mentality. Like, where do you think >> I honestly hand on my heart? I think it's Colum. Like, we're together 10 years. You knew Lydia before 10 years ago. I was a very different person like in a very different relationship like very different surroundings in that sense but like I'm very very lucky the support system I have and my friends I have are the friends I've had all my life like I think if I've fallen out with someone it could be one or two people within that network that I have I nearly have too many friends and everyone says that to me can you not lose a friend or two I was like at this stage no I can't. But I definitely think it's Colum in a sense of he's a very very positive person and like he he's my calm. I do have my days where like that obviously I was diagnosed I was diagnosed on a Tuesday. We spent the whole Tuesday crying. We were ringing people like a lot of people we told they were told over the phone and like we spent the day digesting it as best we could and then obviously we came back down we were with my family for the day and I obviously cried a lot that day like my family cried so much that day but the next morning like I woke up at this thing of right okay what do I have to do I was like who do I have to ring what phone calls do we have to make and like that I very much tried to maintain a still a very like normal lifestyle and a normal daily living. Like the fact I went back into work the following week knowing I had cancer. I went to lecture picnic. I went to one of my really good friends head parties and I solely was like I'm doing all this and Colin was in the forefront going your life is going to be very quiet for a little while. He was like go and do your things still get up and go. Like I was going out. I was still walking. And I was still doing little bits like like I said some form of normal before I started treatment because I wasn't sick prior to being diagnosed. So I was like we very much like okay we have to kind of prepare ourselves to how sick I'm going to be because obviously you're told about side effects chemo and what to expect. But you don't know what's going to come until you're obviously my way. But Colum I think is definitely like hats off to him. He's very very very strong person. Like I I have my moments where like I said I need to digest it. I'll scream, I'll cry for that hour, that two hours, whatever it is to have that bad day and then the next day I'm like right, okay, you had your day yesterday. What do you have to do today? Like what can I do differently today than what I done yesterday? And I always find like do that 1% more. Like what what mentality can I bring today that I didn't bring yesterday? >> I love that. That's that there's actually a fighter who says that Amy Scully 1% every day. If you get 1% better every day, that's all you need. You don't go from here to here. But but I've actually met you and call him out in New It was a good few years ago. I want to say it was around Christmas and uh I had a bit of a chat with him. He was a lovely lovely chat. Um and obviously he's he's been your rock through all this and you talked about obviously when you got that the mortgage like when like when it actually sunk in, what were you thinking? cuz obviously I I don't want to ask your age cuz I know you're be I'm 38. You're a couple of years younger than me. You're a good few years younger than me anyway. So you're you're quite young. Um >> I'll be 34 this year. >> Yeah. So like did you think at that at that age cuz you like I know you do see it a lot but is always that thing you never think this stuff's going to happen to you and and when you were able finally able to digest it like what was going through your head? where you're like anxious about uh the treatment that you'd have to get and and then obviously another thing would be for women and be for men as well like having to lose your hair and stuff like >> would that like what was it think what was it like thinking about stuff like that was did that make you anxious or did you like that did you go right well this is what has to be done for us to to get through it >> well that was Colum's mentality the whole way through it he was like this is what you have to do to get better and he's like this isn't going to be forever he's like we have to do this for a few months. He's like, "This time next year, we're going to be in a very different place." And that was obviously always in the back of my mind. But like the most anxious I was was waiting for my results. So obviously like I presented to the doctor with what I had found like and it was it was very very visible like it was like four fingers of like an indentation in my breast that looked like someone had pushed it in and it wasn't coming back out and I was like right I I noticed it very quickly so I'm very grateful I did like when I was diagnosed they told me it was stage two so things could have looked very differently and I've always said that throughout my good days and bad days. I'm like, I could be in a very different place right now. I'm very aware that there's people that got diagnosed the same time as me and unfortunately lost their fight cancer and have since passed away. And like that that sits with you really really differently cuz you're like I'm so you're then made realize how like grateful you can be then. You're like I'm here. I have a chance of fighting. I have a chance of living. Definitely the time between being waiting to be diagnosed, like from when I got my triple assessment, they were the worst. It wasn't even two weeks. I think it was 10 days. Like I remember I turned around to my mom and dad and I was crying my eyes out and I'm like, I don't want to lose my hair. They're like, you're not going to lose your hair. But my goat, I knew my gut told me it was cancer. And I was saying that to everyone like we were in Budapest like the week before my appointment in the hospital and I remember saying to one of my really good friends that I was in Budapest wait I was she was like it's not she's like I know it's not and I'm like it is I can feel it. I was like there's something telling me this is worst case scenario and unfortunately I was right but I was very I really struggled before I was diagnosed with like cuz you you don't know what's going to come. you don't know what stage you're going to be. I was very much like my sister after having like she's giving us a third nephew like so then they were the youngest like they were Irish twins and I remember being like I'm not going to get to see them grow up like Colum has a daughter Kayla like she's in her 20ies I'm like what's going to happen like you think of everything and I'm like I'm not going to be here and I was really really struggled them 10 days But like I said, I I kind of went into straight away. It was a fight or flight mode and my treatment started very quickly and like there was so much planned then with the month of August like I said had electric picnic had one of my really good friends hen parties and I was like I'm still going. I said I don't care. I'm still going. I might not be able to go next year because we didn't know how things were going to look treatment wise until like that until you started and then you're kind of dealt with the blows of what to expect and how to feel. Yeah. And you talked about that one one thing I would say is you got you've got fantastic resilience. The fact that you can go from one day and have a bad day and go right the next day is a new day. Like a lot of people need to adopt that attitude. H not for just like situations you're in just for everyday life because that was said I don't know some man just said before it's not how it's not what happens it's how you react to it and obviously you reacted positively. >> You talked about obviously when you got diagnosed to when you started treatment was quite quick. Do you think because it was so quick it was probably better that you didn't have a lot of time to think about it was straight into you done all the fun things you wanted to do with your friends and electric picnic cuz what you say it was a month in between was it? >> Yeah. I like I got diagnosed the 30th of July and then I was sitting getting my first chemo on the 27th of August. And do you think it was better that it was that? Because I don't know what what length of time people would usually have to wait because it's not a a subject I'd be experienc because you think it was so so quick. Not that they didn't have time to think about but it was straight into straight into the fire but how did how did if if you're comfortable to talk about like how do how would chemo like affect you on your dayto-day life like what like after getting around the chemo what would that be like if you are comfortable? >> Oh god. It was like the only way I can describe it is it's a very outer body experience. So like I obviously didn't know what to expect in a sense of I was going in and getting my first chemo. I was told Colum now was allowed in with me for my first one. So he sat beside me as I was receiving my first one. Um you obviously me like I said I was kind of lucky in that sense that from being diagnosed starting treatment was very quick. I do think if it was any longer, I don't know how my mind would have reacted because obviously you know it's in your body and then you're obviously like oh my god this could grow, this could spread like and I was I was that was said to me very quickly like from the surgeon they were like this is a very aggressive form of cancer but it is treatable like we can treat it but we have to treat it quickly because it was a very aggressive form. So I think obviously I had that side to it that they were like okay we need to start this treatment as soon as possible and I was told I met with the nurses and everything and was given like a folder. It was like a pack full of information and then it was like the chemo I was on was like four different types of chemo. So each one had a different side effect. So they were like and I remember straight away asking them I was like am I going to lose my hair? because there's a lot of people that go through your chemotherapy and they actually don't lose their hair and they were like with the treatment you're on yeah it's fairly possible you're going to lose it. So I was like, "Okay, right." So I was like, "Oh, I I don't think anything prepared me for it cuz I lost it quite quickly." Like my first chemo was 27th of August and you don't know how to feel like they give you anti-sickness, steroids. You're given so much medication up there on the day you're getting treated. And then when I came home, I was given medication for like I was on steroids for like a full week. And then I was obviously on anti-sickness for like two days, like really strong ones. And then you continue to take it when you need it. And then I had to like do an injection on myself 24 hours after chemo to target I think it was like my white blood cells. So like to try and obviously prevent like infection and help build up your immune system. So I had that side of things then as well to do. Um and then going through that I was kind of like all right, okay, how sick am I going to be? And I I got sick very quick. Um the first round of chemo, I reacted then to the steroids. I broke out like I'm I will share it at the end of the month when it comes up to the year that I've been diagnosed. But I literally my whole face my whole body was completely sced in like yellow blisters and I was sore. Like my eyebrows I still had hair at that point. My eyebrows like my eyebrows were sore. Like I still had my hair. It was obviously the first ranging. So like my scalp was red raw and like I couldn't even touch it. So it obviously then became very evident I was going to lose my hair very quickly. And I lost my hair between the second and the third round. It was actually Colin's daughter's 21st birthday. And I remember saying to him, I just want my hair for her party. I don't want to be bald for her party. And my hair had thinned out a lot. Like I had like a little bun at the back of my hair, but like I still had the front bit that I could curl it, but I remember going into column and I was like my hands were full. Like I was like this and he was like, "Is that your hair?" Like I got out of the shower and it just kept coming and coming and like we had filled a bin full of my hair and I was like and we both just looked at each other and I I just cried my eyes out and I was like I was not prepared to look at it like this. So then that was like the weekend and I went to my sister's one of her friends is a hairdresser and I was like I want someone close to shave my hair. I was like I want my sisters there and I want Colin there and they were all there. We were all there together and I actually laughed through it. I did I don't think I knew how to react. I just laughed so much when I seen my hair falling out and then they all were all like, "Oh my god, you have a really nice shaped head." I was like, "Oh my god." And then my sister's like, "Did you know you had a freckled hair on your head?" And I was they were like they were trying to bring the light to it. And I was just like, I just laughed. I didn't know how to react. >> A really nice shaved head is probably a compliment you'd never thought you'd get in your life. Possibly not. I don't think >> it off like, "Oh my god, being bald really." And I'm like, "Um, thanks." exciting. >> Thanks. And I wouldn't mind men say that to other men when they go ball to make them feel better about themselves as well. It's it's it's not a compliment that you think you would have been receiving, but and I I don't know. I I maybe hasn't guess. I think you with the laugh and it's kind of like you knew it had to happen but I think it's the fact that you were doing it yourself that you were getting rid of the hair rather than you getting >> control of it because it is it's really hard to see it falling out like that and then you don't know how you're going to look and oh my god I actually remember my me and my sister were at home and her partner was wear and that filter was on Snapchat so you could see what you look like bald so we done it and I could not breathe. I was laughing that hard. I was like, "This is what I'm going to look like." And all we could do was laugh. They're like, "Jia, why did you do that?" I was like, "I just wanted to see what I'd look like." She look, I love how much you were kind of laughing throughout this conversation as well. I know obviously it is a touchy subject, but it just shows that like if you were doom and gloom about everything, you might not be sitting here talking to me the way you're talking to me. And one of the things I really admired was you when you put up and one thing I noticed was the was the outpour of support you got. I >> oh my god >> I I knew you obviously from the cinema and I knew you would have went around in circles in newbies and people I knew but like when I just seen the amount of comments, the likes, the shares, I was like wow. And it just shows down to one thing that you are >> a genuinely really good kindhearted person and I've always said that about you. I've always had a great time for you. I really appreciate that >> and I I I think that's the thing as well. How did you feel when you did put it up on social media cuz it's a dawn thing especially like when people put up that they're in a hospital a lot of people like oh this people again but obviously cancer is is is cancer is a couple of steps from the hospital if you get me but like were you nervous about putting up to like your perception of what people might think or did you want to inform people that >> like obviously putting myself out in on social media like that like I would have kept my page like private and obviously Since being diagnosed, I've put everything on public cuz I'm like, and I'm very mindful like I am the exact same person like you meet that I portray online. I'm I'm the same Lydia. I'm like, one of me is bad enough. I was like, I can't portray two different Lydia. I was like, one is enough for everybody. But like the support I've had, oh my god, like I said, I'm very lucky. The friends I've have in my life are friends for 15 years if not more. Like one of my best friends like is my primary school friend. Like we're friends since we were three and I still have her in my life. Like I have a very big network and I think like that as well because I I worked in child care for 10 years and then like I would have done a lot of voluntary work then as well with St. Vincent the Paul like for Sunshine House in Balen when that was going before co unfortunately since co it stopped but like I put myself out into the world and I I kind of done things and people always say like oh my god your smile it's a glint in your eye and it's just like when I hear like how much like I cheer people up when they see me it just I it's one of the things I really like about myself because I'm like that's what I look for in people. That's the kind of people I want to be around. Like I want that positivity. I want I want to be able to laugh like and have that them kind of people in my life. So I'm really lucky that I am that person for other people as well. So I'm really grateful for that. >> You're obviously putting out the same energy that you want to receive as well and that's obviously why you get it. like that when when you put it out first. I was like I was like like Lydia is only whatever age I thought you were time I I would have said 31 32 >> we'll just keep at it 21 >> 21 when when was the last time I'd worked with you we say that age 24 25 something like that >> but I was just like Jesus Christ then then when I seen it and like were you always planning on documenting the steps as it did or was that something that just kind of grew organically as it was happening like were you planning on doing an update like that all the time or were you planning on just kind of announcing it and then going or was did you find were people ask you were they interested to to see what you were going through or was it you just wanted out there? I I found like a few people had reached out to me and was kind of like like how are you coping like how are you managing and it's like like what kind of stage are you at? And then I kind of like I didn't obviously docu I didn't share a lot going through chemotherapy cuz oh my god like I said it's like a it's a really out of body experience like I was sore from my head to my toes like I got side effects very very quickly and not prepared me for the side effects I was going to get like you name it I sure as hell got it and that was really hard so I was very quiet going through chemotherapy in that sense apart from like my closest friends that would have seen me like in the thick of it. But I did like take photographs and stuff like if we were on Snapchat to each other or we would have been sending pictures to each other and I did save a lot of that. So then when I did come to sharing things online like I used them photographs like I wasn't planning on that and then as I put up like one video one day it absolutely blew up and I was like like I'm that person like I was scrolling and I came across like a lot of people like that online that it was very like gloom and I was like oh I was like I shouldn't be online like I kind of then minimized my time online and when I was then putting my story out. I was like like I want to portray this in the best positive way that I can and like obviously it does help that I have that positive outlook too that it does come across the things I do share online that like I said it's what you see is what you get with me and like I said one of me is enough. >> Well, so as well as the the social media stuff, I see you actually had an article written on you recently as well. Um, talk to us about that and being able to tell your story to people to to reach a huge audience like that. What was that feeling like someone coming in and how did that come about actually if you don't mind me asking? >> It actually was from my Tik Tok. So like that I the bits that I do share on Instagram I try put on Tik Tok as well because obviously Tik Tok is going to reach an audience that like your Instagram doesn't reach. Um, and I would have shared like my video. I think it was it was the video I actually put up when I shared that I was declared cancer free and like I was recovering from my surgery. Um, and I've obviously shared bits prior to being like like the diagnosis and then during it as well. And basically a girl from the sudden got in touch with me and had like sent me a private message on TikTok and I was like, "Oh, this is not like this is a scam." like I didn't believe it. So I just like replied to her. I was like, "Oh." I said, "If you want to discuss it further, like here's my email address. Like you can email me." Lo and behold, it was an email address. And like she was a real person. Um, so we arranged and had that phone call and she basically like that just wanted to talk about like how like you've asked me as well like how I've remained so positive and like what like made me share that kind of side on social media and to like put that out there and um I was very I was very nervous. I was obviously very apprehensive like doing it because I was like like this is the newspaper. I was like this going to be shared online. I was like a lot of people can see it. But then sure ended up being shared as an exclusive. So you actually have to sign up to this Irish son to get it. So that's why I I've shared as a screen recording cuz like that like I was that young person scrolling on social media and being like I'm not like you're not too young like and there's a girls I'm going to give them a little bit of a mention that are doing it um a campaign called too young to be heard and I've been in touch with Neve who's running that campaign and she was saying like there's two young people like the age of 17 most recently after being diagnosed knows and a lot of women that are going in and presenting into the breast clinics are being met with you're too young or if they've just had a baby like oh it could be hormonal and like they're they're met with that you're too young but you're not like nobody is too young and like I've said that to a my circle of people as well like and they've all came back with there's children out there that have cancer there's children that die from cancer like and there's nobody too young for it. Like, but I think it's just like when it's breast cancer like you expect when it's older because obviously like the age for a mamogram I I think it's 55. Not 100% sure. Like you'd have to double check that, but like that's the age then you're guaranteed to get one. whatever it's every year like at the age of a guy was 32 going for these tests and then being diagnosed at 32. >> Yeah. Cuz cuz I remember a few years ago there was actually a huge scandal with the the the it would been the mamograms. I remember I think they outsourced them to America and a lot of people had cancer and they didn't realize they did at time. This this is going back a while and I remember there was a girl which I I I forget her second name. I want to say it was dra uh she was quite young as well and that that's what people are campaigning that these tests and mamograms and all this stuff for females should be made available once they've you've become like what like any age it shouldn't be >> a certain age like like said there's kids out there where like there was there's the young there's been that I can't remember his name but there's been kids that like you see every day kids dying from cancer you were never too young or too old it doesn't discriminate It doesn't matter your race, religion, whatever. If it's coming for you and it's coming and it's it's aggressive as well, but speak to choosing you. Like you're you're obviously not choosing you like it's choosing >> growing cuz obviously like when I got diagnosed like I was so young and we had to like family history and I I do have an aunt that has had it twice and then a few of my uncles have had like cancers as well. Thankfully, everyone is still here, but like I lost both my grandparents. And we're like, well, I could have the gene. I'm like, well, why was this never rejected prior? So, obviously, I went and got tested, but I wasn't carrying the gene. So, like, I don't know. There could be someone else in my family that could have the gene. Like, you don't know. And like I remember sitting there after I was obviously got the genetic testing done and I was like why? Like why me? And they just looked at I mean they're like unfortunately it's just pure bad luck because I tested negative to the hormones as well because at first I was kind of like oh my god it could be linked to your hormones cuz obviously there is women that do test positive with breast cancer and it is like hormone positive but I was hormone negative like and I was like it is just pure bad luck unfortunately that I got it. >> Yeah. And like that some people I know people I know a woman who uh she would have a glass of wine with dinner that was it she wouldn't drink she wouldn't smoke she ran every day >> and got riddled and then within 3 months was gone like by the time they realized she had it it it had got her was too far gone and unfortunately you were able to get it at the stage and like you said you were saying earlier that you didn't feel sick but I think I'm not sure I might be wrong in this you'll correct me because obviously it was your post. Did I see a post of you saying that you can't believe you didn't see the signs? Was that >> Yeah, like that. Like I was I was tired, but like I was always tired. Like >> And we're getting older, Lydia. >> I I didn't stop. Like I was working Monday to Friday. I done a Pilates class every Monday evening after work. So I used to drive from my job in Mount Melik to drive to Newbridge for Pilates and then drive back to Monraven. Like that was every Monday. Then every Tuesday and Thursday I was doing workouts. Like I started to I obviously got this whole I'm 30 I need to work out. And like I started working out and then I was doing that Tuesdays and Thursdays. I actually took up swimming lessons as well. So I was doing that Wednesday evenings and then sure come Friday like that I was coming over because obviously me and Colin weren't living together at the time and he was living here in Newbridge with his parents. Every Friday I was coming to his and I was there for the weekend and then sure I took on a course then at work and I was studying every week. So I was in the middle of doing that like that was I was sitting in a classroom every Thursday and then I had assignments coming out me ears and so I was like I I was I was quite tired but like that was the only if you were to ask me now that's the only thing that I can go back and say okay I was tired but like like I said I was working out I was after losing weight I was really healthy and I was like I was probably in the best shape of my to then have everything come crashing down like I I go just was not prepared for it. >> No, you wouldn't be. And I'm tired listening to you naming out everything you've done on a weekly basis. So if I'm tired listening to it Yeah. I can only imagine I didn't stop. I didn't stop. My mom never seen me like when I was living at home. She was like, "Where are you going now?" And I'm like, "Well, this on this on" and I I never stopped. And then like that like I have so many little people in my life like I have two godsons and then nephews and then all the girls have kids. There was always guaranteed a child to be hanging out me as well or I was taking the kids for sleepovers and I was like and then I babysitting then on top of it. I just didn't stop. >> Yeah. I don't I see see like that especially like you said oh you go 30 so you want to over 30 you want to work out and you want to do that sort of there's going to be an expectancy when you start doing that that when you're tired you're can think that's that's natural due to the uptake and exercise I'm doing and other stuff that I am doing to my body that's not used to that this is why I'm tired so you never you never I'm tired a lot as well but I never think I never think oh there's something right one Dave you're a lazy bastard right two it's just you're getting older. That's just I that's how I feel. I never there's been times where I've been tired and I've put it down to being run down. Do you know a sort of way? And that's usually what I do. >> You run yourself into a wall. Like you were doing what you were doing was probably unsustainable as well over a long period of time that like to be that busy sometimes you need to to relax as well. >> Like are you not resting? Like even now like I nearly forget like I'm still recovering and even now it's like I'm like trying to obviously get my body to a percentage that it was once at before. But you you can nearly forget and you're like okay I have I now obviously I really have to listen to my body. There's days where I physically cannot move. The body does not want to move and you're like no I need rest. I need to rest. Like I'm still obviously like recovering from treatment. I will have days and I thankfully I'm in a better state of mind now that I will listen to my body whereas before like I used to push past that. Like there'll be nights I'd be sitting up at home to like 12:00 in the morning cuz like that I start being so busy I' then come home and I was doing bits or I was packing a bag to go to X Y and Zed or wherever I was going like I just did not stop. >> Yeah. Because yeah, I find like it's all well and good getting home after all that stuff, you need to wind down. You need one or two hours. And you talked about earlier taking away a lot of your screen time from social media and TV. I think especially winding down at night time. You need to take that stuff away and wind down. >> You're definitely going to have to go on a course when it comes to going back to work. I'm probably going to have to go on to therapy to have my phone taken off me because the screen time lately is just ridiculous. But like it's just like that. It's you kind of shut yourself off from what's going on by scrolling or going on to bits. But you do I I definitely did kind of stop scrolling for a while because I was met with so much negativity online. And then it was very hard to listen to other people's stories then as well. And you were met with obviously really sad stories and then you're like why did that person have to go through that? Cuz that's one like my sisters and my best friends like have all been like, "Oh, I I'd do this for you." And I'm like, "I don't want anyone to ever have to do this." I'm like, "If I could fight this for absolutely everyone," I said, "I would. I do not want to have to see someone go through what they've seen me go through." And like that was that was really hard. Like that why I've been like if I could fight this for absolutely everyone, I would. >> Yeah. No. And fair page there's one there's one thing I really want to kind of get to as well is the day you found out you were cancer free I I want to talk about that but leading up to it did you know that the cancer was going and going and going and then it was going to be gone within a period of time or was it kind of you went through the treat you knew at the end of treatment was there oh was the definite that was going to be gone or was it a maybe or was there a percentage or talk to us about leading up to like did you know you were going to be cancer free on that day or was it a maybe? Oh, that really caught me like completely off guard and I'll go into that because it's it's actually quite funny. Um, but I obviously was hit with six rounds chemotherapy and like the one thing like they all said to me here like in my column as well like it was like I was so sick from chemo and I remember going over to my doctor because like that obviously as I was dealing with the side effects that come with it. I had to go to my own GP and get help with dealing with side effects as well. And I remember her turning around to me and looking at me and she was like, "I don't want to like mean this harshly or anything." She goes, "But she goes, the chemo is obviously working." She goes, "If you are this sick, it's obviously doing something." And I'm like, "I actually didn't think of it like that." So, she made me kind of flip my thinking. And I would have done a lot of that throughout this journey. Like, I I changed an art of I'm like I switch it straight away and I'm like, I'm in charge of this. Like, I can change my thought process. So she made me think that and I was like actually yeah I never thought of that. So obviously with six rounds of chemo and then I would have had a scan then before the surgery to obviously see how the tumor had responded and when I went up to meet the surgeon they were like look we can see that the tumor has shrunk but it's still there and it's still fairly evident in your lymph nodes. So obviously like that like once you hear a cancer in your lymph nodes you know it has to go like so they're like look we're going to go in and do the surgery at that point like they were unsure as to what surgery they were going to do. So whether it be a lumpctomy or a masectomy, but I kind of nearly got said from the get- go that it was going to be a masectomy because of where the cancer was in my breast. It was more than 5 cm apart. So lumpctomy would have been harder for them to do whereas obviously masectomy is full removal and then they would have done the full lymph node clearance as well. So when that was decided, but the day I went up to meet the surgeon, I think I was 2 weeks posttop. So I thought I was just going up just to have them look at how I was healing. I would have still had drains in. So I came home at two drains. It's like he was milking a cow every day. Like I had to empty the drains out twice a day. So I still had them in. So I just thought that's what this appointment was. And I sat up on the bed and I got on really really well with my surgeon like that. Like he's seen me kind of I tried to see the funny side of things. I was like, "So, can I wake up and be like Pamela Anderson?" And he was like, "No, it doesn't work like that." Oh, it's worth a try. But I was I was up on the bed like and obviously my top was off. They were like looking at things and he was just stood to the side of me looking and then the nurse was in front of me and he's like, "So like everything's really good." He's like like everything came back and he was like like there's no evidence of disease and I was kind of like I couldn't even see Colin. Colum was behind the carton. So I couldn't even see him and I was looking and I looked I kind of looked and I was like looked at the nurse and I was like what? And I was like so I was like am I essentially and cancer free? And she was like yeah she's like Lydia like she goes they're absolutely blown away with how well you responded to chemo and then like how well the surgery went. I was just sat there and I started crying. I was like, "Oh, oh my god." I just was not expecting it. It really caught me off guard and I was like I remember even like like a few minutes afterwards I said to the nurse again and then like I would have spoke to her next next day on the phone and she was like Nydia even I walked out that appointment and I had to go back and look at your notes and read everything again. She was like it's just absolutely amazing like how well you responded and I was like oh my god what is going on? It was very um it really caught me. I was I just wasn't expecting it cuz someone was like to me, "How did you react? Did you hug the surgeon?" And I was like, "Well, no." I was sat there with no top on. I wasn't going to jump up and hug him. I was like it was just I was sat there going like, "What is happening?" It was very um obviously like absolutely delighted. But it really I was not expecting to hear it that day. And then like obviously you said you're sitting there you're kind of in shock when when you're hearing it then what was the reaction when you when when you told your friends and family uh your close friends and family what was their cuz like I would presume they >> we left the hospital and I was like he's like like what what do we do and I like let's just go get a McDonald's. He's like, "A McDonald's?" I was like, "Yeah." I was just go I was like, "I really want McDonald's." Because obviously going to chemo there was a things I couldn't eat. So then like that when there was days I crave something. I was like, "No, I need to go get it." And we were sat in McDonald's and I remember ringing like the girls and even when like like I rang home and rang my sisters and I was like like I'm essentially cancer free and they're like what? like they were met with like and then obviously you were met with like tears of pure joy down the phone because like that it didn't feel like that long ago they all got the phone call to say basically look I'm after being up in the hospital I'm being diagnosed with cancer and then to flip it then to be like no I'm essentially cancer free like like what what's going on like it just caught us all and everyone was obviously like that tears of pure pure joy and then I was Like I kind of turned around to my mom and dad. I was like, "When can I have my party?" And I was like, "You're kind of down." I was kind of brought back down when you were kind of knocked back down a peg or two because I was like, "Essentially, yes, you are cancerree." And this is what the nurses kept reminding me. They're like, "But you still have to you still yet to receive radiation and you're still going to have to come up here every 3 weeks and receive treatment. Like you're still going to have to get her septin." So I was like, "Right, okay." Whereas I thought the herptum would finish technically like a year after diagnosis. So I was expecting me to finish that in August to be told no like till next March or April. So that knocked me out a peg or two cuz I was like you're still very much still existing in that world. Like I walked to the oncology ward. So, like you're sitting there in the chairs I sat in and waited to be called for chemo in and I'm going in and I'm sitting in the chairs that I sat in to receive chemo that I'm still going up and experience not to receive the injection like so it's still it's I'm still very much living in that world. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, cuz like that like when like I said, I'd be very I was very naive to think not I knew obviously there would be after care but I didn't realize to the extent like until I seen what you were going on but obviously the situation that you've had is I I want to say one thing or a couple of things your mentality I think is one of the things as well. I think that a lot of people don't don't realize I think obviously it's a physical thing but I think most most of the things are controlled by your mind and if you have a good mentality that will actually I think that will tell your body and it'll bring it through. An example, an MMA fighter broke his neck and he was paralyzed from the neck down. >> Not January gone to January before. Told he's never walk again, never fight again. He's running again. >> Like, >> oh my god, that's amazing. >> And he said if he was there and if he could only move his b his his big toe this much, he'd try and move it a little bit. But that every day he done something different and I think you were the same. I think your mentality is what has kind of taught your body or talked your body and and that's what got you through it. But in this situation, obviously it's never a nice situation what you've gone through, but there's always positives from every situation. One of the things I want to know is is there anything that you found out about yourself that you didn't know? Whether it be like like that your mentality, your resilience, is is there something about your what did you find out about yourself that you never knew previously to to this occurrence? >> How strong I was? It's like I never like I said like a Lydia prior 10 years ago probably would have laid there and took it and been like oh my god it's the end of the world as we know it like oh what's the point like I would have had a very very different outlook and very different mindset on life and I definitely surprised myself as to how strong I actually am and like how like I have been dealt with like the worst thing that could ever happen to anybody like and it was funny. I remember having a conversation with Colin years ago cuz like you've obviously always there's always a fear of you getting really sick or something happening to you. And I remember saying to him I was like oh my god I was like if I ever get diagnosed with cancer I was like I'm not getting treated for it. I was like I'd be just happy just to let my body like just go cuz I was like what's the point? I was like I don't want people to see me go through that. I don't want people to see me sick and get sicker. But when you're dealt with that then like you literally go into fight or flight. Like I'm like I can control this narrative. Like I can control how I feel, how I react, how I respond. I was like, "Yeah, I'm going to have days where I physically could not walk the stairs." Like to go from A to B. Like I'd stand there and cry for a few minutes cuz your body was that sore. And then like there last week I was able to do like a little bit of gardening and Colin turned around to me and he was like you would not have been able to do that like 3 weeks ago. He's like your body is like just getting stronger and stronger and stronger and I would have had um back surgery 3 years ago and I had the very same mentality in that sense. Like I knew I had to get up every day and move and I had to do a certain amount of exercise and a certain amount of movement cuz I knew what would happen to my body if I didn't. I was like it'd be very easy for my body to give up and like to stay on top of physio town like I was going over and walking in the swimming pool for an hour just walking because I knew how good it was for my back to heal and I was like I carried that mentality forward obviously going through cancer treatment and try to try to control the narrative as much as I can in a sense of like okay you can do this like yeah you're having a really bad day today but tomorrow's going to be that little bit easier on the day after that cuz obviously chemo was every 3 weeks. So I literally only start to feel better just before I was hit again. So it's like your body was just built back up and then you're crashing and then obviously towards the end of treatment that got harder and harder because I was sicker and sicker and sicker and I ended up being admitted to hospital like on the last round for like over a week and I was I was just so ill. My body was just so weak cuz you're just your immune system. It just was never getting the chance to get back up and then you're being hit again. But I was like I knew what I was doing. I was like essentially like as well as I felt before being diagnosed. I was like you're being sick because the treatment is making you sick to kill something like it has to kill this disease and you have to unfortunately feel this [ __ ] to know like what you're going through. do you know in that kind of way like if that makes sense. >> Yeah. No, 100%. You have to it's going to get worse before it gets better kind of >> sort of a thing as well. And and it's also true cuz like obviously you you are cancer free now. Uh realistically, but like what are the next few months ahead of you like like what kind of things are you still like you talked about you still have to get the radiation and stuff like that. like how long is that going to go on for? Or is this going to be a constant thing that you're going to have to live with that you're going to have to have not obviously radiation and different things like that, but you'll always have to have consultations and and go into hospital. Will that be a thing forever or is that just >> I actually don't know that myself. Um I finished radiation a month ago. So I actually I went through 15 rounds of radiation. So, like this week was like the first week that I actually was able to go back out for a walk again cuz my body was just that tired after receiving radiation. Like I've only kind of started to build myself back up again. It's like what I said to you earlier on. You literally got to a point that you get and then you're hit again and you have to go again. So I I was like that through each round. So it was like chemo, okay? Recover from chemo, get yourself a little bit stronger to be able to manage the surgery. Then you like the chemo was obviously still in my system going through surgery that the day you're going in like you still feel crap. It felt awful like and then obviously surgery then to recover from that and then to get yourself ready for radiation whereas like it's only like this week that I was able to go back and do like a little walk again. Like I managed to do like a little 15 minute workout today and a 15-minute workout the other day. So I was like I'm doing really well in that sense. But going forward, like I know I have a surgical review coming up in September. I've like so I still have to get I have to go for physio appointments like every 3 months um because of like that risk of lympademia after surgery. So all that side of things as well and like I'm going to be at risk of that for the rest of my life. Um, so I actually have to do like a deep tissue massage on myself like every day to try and stop the buildup of fluid that I have there. So I I don't get lympademia. So it and then I obviously have my injection every 3 weeks to get now going forward until I think it's maybe March or April next year. But for scans and tests and things like that and like obviously the mamogram I don't know if it's going to be six monthly or yearly. But like they will be looking at my face in the hospital for another while. I know they're very they're very thorough in that sense like especially with being young. They'll obviously make sure that like there's no like reoccurrence there. And I'm obviously looking then to get like another masectomy done down the line cuz I want to try and eliminate the risk myself as much as possible. As like I said, I've always I'm very much like I want to control this as much as I can. I was like, and if I can help eliminate that risk, I will. So, that's that's my plans anyway. So, I think I'll have more of an idea after I meet the surgeon, like what kind of life will look like going forward in a sense of when do I expect to be called up, but they definitely will be looking at me for another while at least anyway. >> Yeah. And I like that you want to eliminate the threat because prevention is the best best >> rather than having to find a solution. prevention is the best the best meth to go with. I got to let you go. I've really enjoyed this conversation. I'm so glad you took this interview. Um it was so for ages I was like >> because I knew you personally as well. I said like is this crossing boundaries or do I I said [ __ ] I'm just going to ask her. Me >> said I'm an open book. >> We used to get on so well in the cinema. It was such a good place to work and like that. We not that we would have kept in contact regularly. We'd have the odd conversation here and there if we pass each other or whatever. But uh before you go, is there anything you want to say before you go or anyone you'd like to thank or is there or is there any advice you'd like to give maybe people who are in the situation or something they can do to prevent being in the situation you found yourself in? >> And definitely like that like it's a whole thing of like early detection is key. like the first of every month I try to share now a thing to remind everyone to just do a little check on on themselves like I do it like in front of the mirror on myself now like cuz that's where I saw mine I saw mine and like my reflection one day like I I wouldn't have felt it there's like it was only when it was visibly there so definitely like just about checking yourself like and about maybe doing it in front of a mirror and like if there's anything that you do think is wrong with your body, just make the appointment and go to your doctor and just ask the question. Like I met with a lot of people and it's kind of like, oh, it could be fine. It might not be. Isn't it better like to go and spend that €60 to find out, no, everything's fine just to have that comfort because like like you said, like my body was harboring a disease that potentially could have killed me and I didn't know. And thankfully I did spot it like that in the mirror. And I just think it's so important for everyone to listen to their bodies. And then definitely like if I have any advice for anyone like going forward that like is really struggling like the light is there at the end of the tunnel. It does take a little bit of a while to see it. Like I said that little 1% more each and every day. Like it does get better. Like this time last year I hadn't even been diagnosed yet. And I feel like I have gone full circle. Like I've been through the absolute mill and I'm like I'm still here thankfully and I'm so grateful I'm here and just like make the most out of like every little day things like that you do take for granted. >> Yeah. Know and it's those little things in life that actually make up cuz those little things those little things that happen on your dayto-day they actually make up 90% of your life. Like the big things that come around like that buying a house. I want to say that's not that's something that happens once in a lifetime. It's these little things, the people you meet, your like you said, your nephews, your nieces, your family and stuff like that. It's those little things that make up the majority of life. So really embrace them when it's there because like said like a later detection and it might have been a different story, but >> absolutely. >> Look, thank you so much. It's been an absolute pleasure. H is there anything else you want to add before we go? >> No, I don't think so. I think you fairly hit the nail on the head now with your questions and I just really appreciate you reaching out and asking me to come on and share it. Like I know you said like that you do this is very different like you're you're used to doing it with MMA fighters and it's just like I just really hope it does reach an audience that it hasn't yet reached yet and like that my social media is open if anyone wants to send me a message. I like said I'm an open book of what you see is what you get with me. I'm not I'm not two different people. Well, I'm the one person. >> Yeah, like I said, we can only deal with one. Well, I could have done with two in the cinema and then I could have had a bit of a [ __ ] rest, you know. But no. Yeah, like I said, no. Well, I I fell into the MMA. But you know what it is? It's the people and how they think and the tosses how just say me and you could come from the same place and say and you could go one way. I just I just find people fascinating how that what makes them tick. Why do you go this way and that person goes that way? That sort of thing. But look, thank you again and I will talk to you very very soon. >> I appreciate that.