The Comeback with Leona Macken
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What led to Leona Macken's cervical cancer diagnosis?
I first came across this woman about a year ago and when I heard what had happened to her, I was truly gobsmacked, shocked and then it turned to anger. How could something like this happen to someone? Leona Macken. A young mum, a wife, a woman just living her life who trusted the system and was let down in the most devastating way. Leona had two smear tests, one in 2016 and again in 2020. Both reported as normal, but they shouldn't have been. The warning signs were there and they were missed. And those failures led her to be diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2023. She went through everything, major surgery, chemotherapy, fighting for everything she had, only to be told in 2025 that her cancer had returned and progressed to stage four.
Incurable cancer. all while raising her two beautiful daughters, Quinn and Drew, alongside her husband, Alan. To say Leona is a warrior is an understatement. The fact that she showed up for this podcast in Dublin while battling this horrendous cancer says everything about the woman she is. Now Leona is on trial for a new drug and her tumour has already started to shrink. I set her off bare when she told me, why couldn't it be you? Why couldn't this miracle drug work for you? And she agreed. And I really hope it does. Because she is a gorgeous woman, a wonderful mum and a devoted wife. As always, this episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD care and assessment across Ireland.
If you were seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit ADHDnow.com today. And before we do get to the episode, I'd really appreciate it if you do enjoy this episode to leave a comment on Spotify for me. And also, don't forget to subscribe. This is The Comeback with Leona Macken. Leona, what an absolute joy to have you.
Thank you.
I first came... I know, finally is right. We're here in Dublin in Bower Media, Go Loud Studios. You're actually my first guest on the comeback in this studio.
Oh, no way. Yeah. I'm privileged. Two car fee for London. You're Kerry, aren't you?
Half Kerry. Well, this is it, right? I'm going to get... always before I used to be like I'm Cork, I'm Cork but you know what my mother's Kerry and the more the older I get I'm kind of like do you know what it's the whole GA thing for me with the Kerry thing because the footballers were always brilliant and the football always used to be Cork and I suppose it was kind of like just the Kerry thing for me was the footballers beating Cork all the time. But I know, can I say, look, I suppose I'm half Kerry and I'm in Kerry most of the time now when I'm home.
How did Leona cope with her cancer diagnosis and treatment?
And sure, we love the kingdom and we love the rebels. We love the rebel county.
I know.
I know. I'm delighted to have you here. I first came across your page, I think it was last July, June or July. Yeah, July, yeah. And my thing was, how have I never come across this girl before? You're from Cork as well, obviously. And we all do each other down in Cork. I know, I know. And then I was, I think your, I think your friend at the time, there was a 5K being held for you.
Yeah, that was, it was actually one of our friends. Well, Ash grew up with Alan, like she's friends with him years and so is her husband. And they were doing the marathon up here and they left it too late to register. So they were, she rang me on like a Sunday morning and she was like, I'm lying here with my sisters and we tried to sign up for the marathon. And we were too late. Can we do a little run for you? And I was like, no way. I was like, please don't do this. I was mortified, like, you know. And she's like, oh, please. It's literally just like the five of us and a few little people from the community. And I was like, oh, let me think about it. So she got back to me and she was like, she just thrives on things like that, like loves, she's involved in like the summer project and the youth club and all these things, like she's amazing, like, and she was like, can we do it or what?
And I was like, oh, I don't know. She was like, look, you don't have to do anything.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What led to Leona Macken's cervical cancer diagnosis?
0:00–2:37
2
How did Leona cope with her cancer diagnosis and treatment?
2:37–4:07
3
What challenges did Leona face during her treatment journey?
4:07–7:31
4
What was the impact of the misdiagnosis on Leona's life?
7:31–16:10
5
How did Leona's family and community support her during her battle?
16:10–24:18
6
What are the emotional struggles Leona faces as a cancer patient?
24:18–30:33
7
What treatment options is Leona currently exploring?
30:33–44:06
8
How does Leona maintain hope and resilience in her journey?
44:06–53:56