National radio broadcaster Louise McSharry said this morning that she has been diagnosed with cancer.
The 31 year old - who took over Dave Fanning’s nightly spot on RTÉ’s 2fm - spoke about her diagnosis on the station earlier today, saying she learned last week that she has Hodgkin’s lymphoma - which is cancer of the white blood cells.
Speaking to Ryan Tubridy this morning, Louise said that she has been in ill health for the last few months.
She had her appendix removed last December, which in turn had developed an abscess, and she lost her appetite afterwards as well and felt “a bit strange”.
The DJ also claimed she had trouble sleeping and her periods stopped, but added that she is determined to remain positive and described herself as “very lucky” saying “I have genuinely no doubt I’m going to be fine”.
She explained that Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a curable cancer and that 80% of those diagnosed are cured after their first round of treatment.
“I’m going to do six months of chemotherapy and after six months, they’re going to tell me I’m cured and can go back to my life," she added.
Tweets of support have been flooding in since she broke the news on air:
@LouiseMcSHarry Get well soon! Been there myself. All I can say is smile laugh & be positive & the rest will look after itself. #livestrong
— Richard Carroll (@cyberlocks) August 27, 2014
Best wishes- no doubt that you are strong and will get through as @louisemcsharry you are fabulous, with a super attitude! Get well soon:-)
— Aoife Ryan (@aoifemryan) August 27, 2014
She then took to twitter to thank all of the well wishers.
Hate when people say this, but am genuinely overwhelmed by all your kind messages. Thank you.
— Louise McSharry (@louisemcsharry) August 27, 2014
And a huge thanks to Ryan and the Tubridy team for making this morning easy. xx
— Louise McSharry (@louisemcsharry) August 27, 2014
Louise and her fiance even plan to tie the knot on August 20 next year, which will mark a year to the day of her diagnosis.
In an interview with The Irish Times’s Róisín Ingle earlier this year, she spoke about how her father died of cancer when she was just the tender age of three and how her mother was an alcoholic that moved her family to the United States a week after her seventh birthday.
Listen to that interview here:
Such an inspiration and we wish her a full recovery.
For cancer information and support, visit the Irish Cancer Society website www.cancer.ie or call: 1800 200 700.