A Monaghan mother says a breast cancer awareness banner hung by Crocus Monaghan on Glaslough Street helped save her life, because it pushed her to get a lump checked that she had been putting off. Kate Scott told Northern Sound on Tuesday 20 October that seeing the banner go up led her to her GP the following day.
Kate is originally from Cork and now lives in Monaghan with her husband and children. She was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago.
A Sunday morning in Monaghan Town
Kate told the station she had found a lump and was in two minds about whether to have it looked at. A few days later, early on Sunday 29 September 2024, she was walking through Monaghan Town when she came across members of Crocus putting up their "Care 4 Ur Pair" banner.
The banner is made up of bras donated by local women affected by breast cancer. It is displayed on Glaslough Street to get people talking and to remind women to check themselves regularly. It is sponsored and manufactured by Universal Graphics and was designed by Caolán Maguire.
After seeing it, Kate booked an appointment with her GP the next day. On 10 October 2024 she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She said the banner showed what a community can do when it comes to raising awareness.
"There's no point suffering alone"
Kate had strong praise for Crocus and its message that nobody should go through cancer on their own. "Crocus is such a fabulous community and we need people to know that the service is there because unfortunately there are too many people in Monaghan and the wider community going through a cancer journey by themselves and it's such a lonely and miserable place to be," she said.
"Crocus is massively unique to the community and there's no point suffering alone. If anything I would encourage people across this month to look after their health, check yourself, make sure that you're listening to yourself and the signs and after that use the services that are available to us. They're excellent and I can't recommend them enough."
What Crocus does
Crocus is a peer support group for people living with a cancer diagnosis, and their families, at every stage of treatment and recovery. Its centre sits in a cul-de-sac just off Hospital Hill in Monaghan Town. Northern Sound reported in April that the group began with just three members and has grown to more than 300.
Its supports are free and include complementary therapies, mind-body workshops, counselling and psychotherapy, and a transport service. A men-only group, the Men's Den, meets every fortnight. The charity relies heavily on donations from the public and local businesses.
Emyvale woman Michelle Duffy, the Senior Members Peer Support Co-ordinator, told Northern Sound earlier this year that new members fill out a support package with their doctor, and she then works with them one-to-one to get them the help they need. A cancer survivor herself, she said: "You are broken at first when you're diagnosed, but it's down the line, when you can see them flourish and growing with the support from Crocus."
How to get in touch
The Crocus centre is at 19 The Grange, Plantation Walk, Monaghan, H18 R261, and is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. The office landline is 047 62565, the peer support mobile is 087 368 0965 and the Men's Den mobile is 087 182 0079. The group can also be emailed at [email protected].
Anyone who finds a lump or notices any change in their breasts should contact their GP without delay.
