The Comeback with Sarah Monaghan
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13 year olds aren't meant to get cancer. That's what we think anyway. This week on the podcast, I sit down with 17 year old Sarah Monaghan, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at just 13. Sarah speaks so openly about the shock of that diagnosis, how quickly her life changed and undergoing an egg retrieval at just 14 to protect her chance of having children in the future. She also talks about the isolation of radioactive iodine treatment and Watching everyone else get on with their lives while she felt completely cut off from the world. And we also hear from Sarah's sister Zoe who becomes emotional as she talks about how desperately she wished she could have taken the cancer and all the pain that came with it away from her little sister.
Now four years on Sarah says it still doesn't fully feel real and that cancer is something she knows she will be watching for the rest of her life. I want to say a huge thank you to Sarah's mother, Sylvia, and father, Brian, for helping make this conversation happen and for trusting me with Sarah's story. And also a huge thank you to Sarah Burke O'Connor for introducing me to the family in the first place. If Sarah teaches us one thing, it's to never take life for granted. And what a gorgeous young woman she is. If this story resonates with you, please leave a comment and hit that subscribe button. It really helps. And as always, this episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland.
If you are seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit ADHDnow.com today. Sarah Monaghan, my youngest ever podcast guest. Tell them all what age you are. 17. I could be your mother. Very much so. I'm so delighted to have you here. You have some story even at the age of 17. Yeah. you might be a bit nervous I'm actually quite nervous as well because I've never had someone saying but your story the way you tell your story and what you've gone through even you're not even 18 years of age you really are a remarkable young woman we'll get to why you're here and tell your story in a couple of seconds but for anyone who might know Sarah Monaghan can you tell them who you are and where you grew up
My name is Sarah Monaghan. I'm 17. I grew up in Glanmire. I go to school in St. Al's, Kerry 2. I
like it. You don't have to see who likes school. Who likes school at 17? Yeah,
it's
okay. I like seeing all my friends. And your friends most definitely have played a big part in your life the last couple of years. Definitely. You got a diagnosis at the age of 13. Very, very difficult one that was life changing. Can you tell us about that?
So when I was 13 my friend noticed a lump in my neck and I went to go get it checked and it turned out to be thyroid cancer and my whole life changed from then on. I was at a sleepover in my friend's house and I noticed a crack in my neck but I didn't really think much of it because I thought I just slept weirdly. And then about a week later my other friend on the bus on the way into school noticed a lump in my neck. So me and my mum went down to the chemist to see what it was about and then we went to South Dock and they told me I had a cyst and then they told me to follow up with my GP and my GP sent me to the hospital and then just tests there and I was told I had thyroiditis which is just an inflamed thyroid and I was referred to an endocrinologist and then sent to a different hospital and I got a biopsy and the next day my parents were told that I had thyroid cancer.
Even for me, that's a lot to take in. From you having the cricket neck to be diagnosed, what was the time span in that? About two weeks. It was a total shock. I never thought it would happen to me. Girls at age 13, they're not meant to get cancer. They're not meant to go through that. Later on that evening, was there... I suppose you had a lot of questions to ask because even someone my age or your mum's age, how did you compartmentalise that from having... Did you have to go to school the next day?
No I had an appointment the next day so I didn't go but I was just in complete denial.
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