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Chapter 1: 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...
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Chapter 2: 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. She was like, I'll organise everything.
And I was like, all right, Gwen, OK. She started it. And I think after about two days, she was like, Leona, there's like a hundred and something people signed up.
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Chapter 3: What challenges did Leona face during her treatment journey?
And I was like, you are joking me. And she was like, and like, I think on the day there was like over 200 people ended up doing it. And like where we kind of started was literally facing my house and my house facing like where the youth club and that is. And just the whole day was like, it was amazing.
Like at the time I was obviously going through chemo and radiotherapy, so I was probably my frailest at the time.
Yeah.
And I was like, I can't not go over there like, you know, but oh I got a new lease of life that day and I knew everybody and then there was people that I didn't know and I was like they were coming up to me and they were like hi Leo and I'm such and such and it's like the community and I've said it before the community in Artain is so special like and for someone who comes from Cork
Like, I feel like I'm like a blowing and then to see all these people that just wanted to help, just wanted to be there for us and help us. It was just beautiful. So I think I cried most of the day, actually. Like even the kids were like, why is your face on the T-shirts and stuff? And we were trying to explain to them, but it was all down to like Aisling and Stephanie and her sisters.
They literally just thought of it one morning. And it turned into a big community thing. We had food and ice creams and music. And it was unbelievable, the day itself. But it was just very emotional. For something that was going to be one little thing, we didn't plan on doing it for very long. In the space of a few days, it just blew up into this thing.
I think it was actually Aisling who had messaged me asking, can I share the run? And then that's how I came across you.
She's unbelievable.
I remember messaging her like how was I not aware of you in your story and then messaging you direct and in your messages you were so positive because I was a guest at everything you had been through which we'll get to and Leona you've been through so much yeah like you've been through so much are you 38 now?
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Chapter 4: What was the impact of the misdiagnosis on Leona's life?
That's true.
That's true. Yeah, that's true. But where in Cork did you go up and what it was like and where did you go to school?
Cork Hill. I'm a proper Norwegian. Yeah, school was great. I had brilliant friends. I have a brilliant family. We're really close. I'm close to my mum and dad and my brothers and my aunts and cousins. Like, just the most normal upbringing. Like, I don't have any, like, sad story. Like, I had a really nice childhood, like, and, you know, went through school, like, secondary school.
I went to St Vincent's. And when I left school, I ended up working at Marks and Spencer's for a bit. So I was there for a few years. My mum is still there in Patrick Street. And then after that, I went into hairdressing and kind of once I went into hairdressing, then that was it really. I didn't really do anything else. I worked in a salon in Cork for a bit until I did move to Dublin.
So I was only like 23, 24 kind of when I moved to Dublin. And yeah, like I just I ended up meeting Alan in 2010. I'm not going to say I stalked him, even though he will want me to say that. He tells everyone, like, you totally changed me. I probably did, actually. But look, we were kind of texting. We were like friends on Facebook.
And, you know, the usual on Facebook was the main thing at the time. It was like liking this and sharing that and commenting on his videos. Oh my, you know that if someone likes your video, you'd be looking over the likes and you'd say you liked it. You'd be like, oh my God, I'd have to like my video. I think I messaged him then and I sent him my number.
I kind of knew of him, but I didn't actually know him. And like we had mutual friends and things like that. So one of my friends is from Dublin and I would have been up and down to her and stuff, Melissa. And she knew him and she used to hate him. She was like, don't go near him like that. And I was like, we were kind of texting on and off in 2010 and nothing really came of it.
And he still says, like, I just know you lived in Cork. So I was like, whatever. He just, yeah, nothing came for a while. And then I was out on a night out in the George and checking in here and there throughout Dublin that day. And it was like, I think it was like November 2010. Like it was really snowy. It was really bad weather at the time.
And I came out as George and I had all messages, like I was up on the stage and there, like having the time of my life, didn't check my phone. Came out and there was like all messages from, oh, we're heading in town, I'm heading to my friends. And as the messages were going on and he was like, I'm outside, sure. And I was like. Oh, my gosh. I was like, he's literally at the end of the lane.
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Chapter 5: How did Leona's family and community support her during her battle?
And that smear, I remember them being like, I can't really see our cervix, like, you know, and I can, you know, it's cloudy and we're going to put you on a course of tablets. And I was like, OK. And they were like, have we got? And I was like, no, I don't really have any, any like pain as such. And yeah, I went back then in the January 2020. And got it redone.
And yeah, came in like no abnormalities. And I was like, cool, like, you know, grand, it is what it is. And then I think it was in and around kind of maybe 2021 where I found symptoms starting again. I was after having two babies. My body was changing. You know, I was putting it down to like I'm getting older, you know, and. there were very much symptoms that like every other woman would get.
Like little pains here and there, pains around my, you know, when my period and things like that. And they kind of started progressing in like 2022. And that's when I started going to my GP being like, you know, I'm getting pains, hair was like all across my ovaries and it was like a dull ache kind of, you know. And then my period started becoming very irregular.
So I always was like on the ball with my period and stuff like that. And then I could go like, you know, 21 days, it could be like 30 odd days, 41 days. And I was like, this is really weird, you know, it's never. But again, I was just putting it down to I've just had two babies and I'm still, my body's still recovering. Maybe I had them close together and things like that.
And
Then in, I think it was January 2023, I'd been to my GP a few times. And again, like, I mean, my GP was looking at my history. I've never had any abnormalities. I feel like even if I had had abnormalities, I may have been, like, checked a little bit more for smears or... you know, there would have been a little bit of an alarm kind of going, okay, she had abnormalities at some stage.
But like I had two really heady pregnancies. I didn't have a bother like getting pregnant as well. And my smears were all perfect. So it didn't seem to be anything too sinister. I kind of was saying, is it like the menopause or endometriosis, something like that. I went for an ultrasound in the January and that came, that was fine as well.
And then I, March 2023, I went for my next smear and yeah, that's when they called me, they rang me. So my actual GP was on maternity at the time and the clinic rang me and they were like, can you come down to us? And I was like, I actually got a letter in as well. So I was like, it's to do with my smear, is it?
they were like yeah so I went down and I knew it was at that point that when I looked at all my symptoms I was like oh my god I have every symptom for cervical cancer like I was just like okay so I went down and they were like yeah look you need to you need to go to Rotunda and you need to go to Colposcopy I can never say that word and then I was like okay
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Chapter 6: What are the emotional struggles Leona faces as a cancer patient?
that the smears they gave you they said they were negative did you at the time you had no idea that they got that wrong you had no idea it was just an intuition i had no idea but i again it was just my gut feeling yeah i was like oh my god like am i like one of those women it doesn't add up
And then I went in for an appointment then and that's kind of when they said to me, you know, I had spread to the lymph nodes and we have to do chemotherapy and radiotherapy. And I just went, oh my God, this isn't over. Like I thought I was going to get the hysterectomy and I was going to be back to work by Christmas. Like I genuinely did. Like I had the hysterectomy in July.
I was like planning to be back and work for October, November. Like, you know, I thought maybe nine weeks would do me and I'd be fine.
Because it doesn't add up because especially if you're after getting the smears results saying they're negative. So that's it just doesn't add up as you're saying.
Yeah. And I had nobody to go to. Like I didn't have anybody that like I was so new to it all. I didn't have anyone to go. Do you know is this right? I had nobody. The only person I had. with Siobhan at the time, and she was the first person who kind of acknowledged it and went, look, it could be a horrible twist of fate, but maybe, maybe, like, you know, this doesn't add up.
And I just was like, yeah. So they then were like, we'll get your smears back from America and we'll get them tested. And I was like, yeah, I definitely want to do that. So in the meantime, I had like nine weeks of healing from the hysterectomy straight into chemo and radiotherapy. So I done like radiotherapy on a Monday and Friday and then chemotherapy on the Wednesday.
And honestly, the radiotherapy floored me. Like I always thought like chemotherapy would be like what would kill you. Like the radiotherapy was horrific. Like I just was so sick on it. And then I finished that then kind of the end of 2023. And then 2024, I was just in so much pain still.
And, you know, like I think as well being a hairdresser, like you kind of get up and you do your makeup and you do your hair. And I was so used to being like, you know, you just get on without any hairdressing. It's one of those kind of jobs that we, you know, you just put on a show nearly sometimes. So I was just so used to doing that.
So every appointment I went into, I'd have my hair and makeup done. But I'd be sitting there saying, I don't feel any better. I'm still in an awful lot of pain. I'm taking so many salpidol a day. And they were kind of saying, oh, the hysterectomy would take a while to recover from. And because I had done chemo and radio, now my ovaries were obliterated.
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Chapter 7: What treatment options is Leona currently exploring?
And I just felt like I just wanted to be with Alan on my own for a minute, you know? But, like... There was probably so much I wanted to say. It was like the shock just took over. Alan was sitting next to me with his head in his hands and I had my arm around him. And I was like, are you okay? And I was just in shock. I was like, oh my God, this is actually happening.
Like, this is going to get me, like, you know. After everything, I was so angry as well because I was like, I've been saying this, like, for the last year. I'm in pain, like, and I knew something wasn't adding up. So that was for me where the anger was. But I just was like, we need to go. And the two of us went out and sat in the car and we cried so much in the car. There was just silence.
Like we just didn't know what to do. And like my mom and dad were up at the time. And we knew we'd go home then and tell them. So, like, tell his family. I was like, what do I tell the kids? Do I say anything to the kids? Do I just go on as if I'm normal? Like, what do we do? Like, we had no clue how long I had, how fast I was going to progress, whether I was going to get chemo.
you know, we just didn't know, like. And then my mum actually took the kids for about five days because I couldn't look at them. Every time I looked at them, I just bought my eyes out because I just kept seeing everything I wasn't going to be here for. Like in my head, I was like, Drew was like five, Quinn was seven.
So I was like, OK, their life is going to be, their normal is me not to be in their life now because they're going to live a longer life without me in it. then, you know, me being in it. So that's all I could think of. That's all that was going on in my head. I'd fall asleep and I'd wake up going, oh my God, this is real.
Like, I wanted to just knock myself out constantly because reality was too scary, like. And yeah, me and Alan just, I think I stayed in the house about five days and just cried and cried and cried and cried. I never forget. It was horrendous. And then after about five days, I was like, I can't, I can't go on like this. I can't do this.
Like, you know, so we ended up driving down to Cork and staying down there for a few days. And again, like, I mean, I cried in my mom's arms like a baby, you know, I was like, why did this have to happen to us? Like, and I just kept thinking like after everything I've done How did this happen, you know? I just thought, like, oh, they couldn't have done any more, right?
And I'm in the worst case scenario, like. So, yeah, after I kind of let myself break down, I'd say, for about a week. And then I was like, no, I can't. I can't do this. Like, you know, so that's when I decided to kind of, like... I think that's when I was kind of like, I need to do everything I can do with her. And I knew then, I went back in then for an appointment about two weeks later.
And I was talking to a different consultant and he was like, yeah, we're going to do quadruple therapy. Like, we're going to try this. This, you know, the Pembro is amazing. It does amazing things. It's immunotherapy. And he gave me a little bit more hope, I think. And I just thought, well, look... Even if I get two or three years, let's just try and get that.
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Chapter 8: How does Leona maintain hope and resilience in her journey?
But like my eyebrows are gone, my eyelashes are gone, my hair has thinned loads. I don't think I'll be able to hold on to it till June. But like for now, I'm living a good life with this, you know. It's like... I'm still able to get up and do things with the kids and I'm still able to go for dinner and do my shopping and do things like this, you know.
This is your first time sitting down speaking about it.
Yeah. On a podcast or even like just going through the full thing.
Through the whole thing. Like I know people tell me all the time, like you need to go and talk to somebody, you need to try therapy. But because I'm still in the thick of it, I just don't want to drag myself through all that. I'm like, if I got the all clear, I would be like, let's unpack this. But I'm like, let's just keep going. Let's just like, why dwell on that when...
I don't know how long I'm going to have. I don't know if I'm going to be here this time next year or not. So it's like, why waste my time reliving it? Let's just keep going for now. And that's just how I cope with it.
I said to you when we were, before we came in, And I was kind of just wanted to be very sure about empathy asking the question about you being afraid of dying and what you told me about getting up in the mornings. Like I just felt, I felt so much fear the way your thinking goes from the minute you wake up in the morning.
Yeah, it's like the minute I open my eyes, it's like the very first thing I think of is, am I dying? Like, am I, like, you know, I've stayed for cancer. Like, how, how did this happen to me? Like, you know.
And for me, like, I get days where, like, I am scared, like, you know, and it's like, it's kind of, if I wake in the middle of the night and I can't get back to sleep, they're the worst times because you feel so alone. And I'm like, oh my God, like, how are my kids going to survive? Like, how are they going to be without me? I'm going to traumatise them. Like, that's what comes into my head.
I don't really... worry about me I worry about them because I'm like the devastation like they'd have to go through or like you know living their lives without their mammy like I know their life would be better with me innit you know what I mean and that kills me that they might not remember my voice or they might not remember my mannerisms or you know advice that I might want to give them and
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