A 38-yr-old woman living with incurable cancer has shared that her daughters are what motivate her to keep going, reports RTE.
Yesterday, Leona Macken received a formal apology in court from the Health Service Executive over “failings” in two smear tests that “led to” her cancer diagnosis.
Ms Macken said she was determined to bring a case against the HSE because she shouldn’t be facing this situation and wants to prevent other women from going through the same experience, reports RTE.
“I’ve only ever wanted a simple life and to see my children grow up,” said Ms Macken.
In an interview on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, she described how breaking the news of her stage four diagnosis to her family was the “hardest thing”, reports RTE.
“Even facing my family and telling them was horrific. That was the worst part for me,” she said.
She explained that she tries to be as honest as possible with her eight-year-old daughter, though she can’t promise her everything will be fine, reports RTE.
Ms Macken said she allowed her children to help shave her head so they would be prepared for her hair loss and not be startled when it happened.
Her youngest daughter, who was only three at the time of her diagnosis, has known no different.
Ms Macken said she was taken aback to receive an apology from the HSE and felt deeply moved when she read the words on paper, reports RTE.
“I didn’t realise how much it would mean to me … just seeing the words on paper, it was really overwhelming,” she said, adding, “it justified everything for me”, reports RTE.
“I just felt like I needed to stick up for myself. I did do everything I was meant to do and for them to validate, that was huge for me,” reports RTE.
She recalled sensing something was wrong, despite ultrasounds, blood tests, and other screenings all returning normal results.
At the time, she assumed her symptoms were related to changes in her body after giving birth to two children, but went ahead with a smear test in 2023.
Initially told the cancer was stage one, she underwent a hysterectomy, but the procedure revealed she required additional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, reports RTE.
Even though it was difficult to pinpoint, she said she still felt something wasn’t right. In January this year, she was told the cancer had advanced to stage four, which she described as “gut wrenching”.
“It’s basically treatable to a certain extent, but it’s not curable,” reports RTE.
She is currently undergoing quadruple therapy — two chemotherapy treatments and two immunotherapies — which she said is very challenging.
Ms Macken urged women to keep attending their smear test appointments.
“It didn’t work for me but it can still work for other people,” she said, “and I have friends who have had early detection as a result of a smear test”, reports RTE.
She also stressed that her experience should not discourage others, but said better oversight is necessary.
“My girls will get the [HPV] vaccination without a shadow of a doubt,” she added, reports RTE.
Earlier in the day, the Minister for Health extended an apology to Ms Macken and her loved ones.
On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill stated that what happened with Ms Macken’s smear tests should not have occurred, reports RTE.
“I want to offer my apology too in this case. What we have here is a 38-year-old woman who has been impacted by this, and so have her family, and that is so, so important,” she said, reports RTE.
The minister acknowledged that no screening programme is without limits, but said Ms Macken should never have had to push for an audit of her personal records.
She said patients deserve prompt, transparent responses and solutions — not the extra burden of legal proceedings, reports RTE.
“She should not have had to fight for her records,” said Ms Carroll MacNeill.
“They need a resolution to their case, and they do not need additional stress through going through the court process,” reports RTE.
She also noted that medical negligence cases must be handled differently moving forward.
Ms Macken expressed a strong desire to meet with the minister, saying she feels it’s vital to speak out and that “I think it’s important that people understand the stories behind people like me”, reports RTE.
“We are peoples’ daughters and mothers and we shouldn’t be going through this,” she said.
“I’m a very open person and I’m very open to a chat. I think as well they need to see these people in real life and see what they’re going through,” reports RTE.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
