Belfast mum ‘owes life to Action Cancer’ after shock diagnosis

“I was told it was confirmed to be breast cancer, and it was at the back of my right breast. The consultant said that I would never have felt it myself”

A Belfast mum has opened up about the moment she learned she had breast cancer, after attending a mammogram.

Jacqueline Rooney is an artist who relocated to the city from the Mournes with her husband Scott and two sons Finlay, 9, and Evan, 8. Jacqueline has an art gallery in Belfast City Centre, is a keen musician and singer and regularly plays folk music with her family.

The 47-year-old’s breast cancer was detected following a mammogram in August 2024. In June of the same year, Jacqueline had attended a routine cervical screening appointment with her nurse who happened to mention that being in her 40s, she could go to Action Cancer for the mammogram.

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Jacqueline, who was unaware of this, mentioned it to her sister, who was 45 at the time. They decided to book back-to-back appointments and go together.

“My sister and me drove up from Rostrevor to Belfast for the appointments on Friday 30th August,” she said.

“I was in two minds to cancel my appointment because the boys were starting back to school after the summer holidays that exact day and I wanted to be there for them. But having discussed with Paula, we thought we’d best to go ahead, and I am very glad that we did.

“I felt very much at ease when I went in, the staff were lovely. The mammogram was slightly uncomfortable but fine. We went on our way and had a really nice day out with my sister shopping on the Lisburn Road. I didn’t think any more of it.”

Paula received her letter first to say she had clear results and then Jacqueline got her letter saying that further investigation was needed.

She continued: “Going into the mammogram at Action Cancer, Paula had been more anxious than I was and was convinced they’d find something. I thought I’d be fine. This was based on previous experience years ago of having found a lump myself and it had turned out to be a cyst. So I had been the one supporting her going in not to worry.

“The letter from Action Cancer is very reassuring, detailing that for the majority of follow ups, all turns out to be ok. I tried to focus on the positives but I was feeling anxious and panicking about it. I had private health care, so decided to go down this route to attend a Breast Assessment Clinic.

“I attended an evening appointment at the Ulster Independent and my husband Scott came with me. I felt really anxious going into the appointment.”

The Consultant performed a physical examination then Jacqueline had a core biopsy, mammogram and ultrasound. The consultant said that she needed to await the result of the biopsy for results. He said if there was anything, “it’s been caught early and small and 2cm and will be treatable”.

“I came out and phoned my sister Paula in floods of tears as I knew having read his body language that there was definitely something sinister there. I had a week to wait for my biopsy results and this was the longest week of my life. I was then called back exactly a week later.

“I was told it was confirmed to be breast cancer, and it was at the back of my right breast. The consultant said that I would never have felt it myself.

“If I had waited to be called at 50 by the NHS, I believe it would have been a very different outcome. He had seen this time and time again and it’s very treatable and it had been caught on time. Those two phases stuck with me the whole time. It was stage 2 invasive, 2cm. I felt relief that I knew now exactly what it was and there was a plan of action to deal with it. He was very reassuring saying, all will be fine.”

Jacqueline would need a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy. She would need radiotherapy and the sentinel node biopsy would determine if she would need chemo, that would be unlikely but it wasn’t off the table.

“On 20th November, I had a day procedure at the Belfast City Hospital, recovery was ok,” Jacqueline added.

“A few weeks later I went to see another surgeon to say the margins were clear, he had took two lymph nodes out and one of them was cancerous. So that was really scary news to hear. An option presented to me was further surgery to gain better clearance but with this came the risk of lymphedema in my right arm.

“I couldn’t risk losing my ability to paint, my art is my livelihood.”

A clinical trial with chemo was discussed as a second option but it ended up that Jacqueline wasn’t eligible to receive this. In the end it was decided that Jacqueline would have 15 rounds of radiotherapy and go on hormonal therapy.

“I found the radiotherapy to be exhausting but my family and friends really rallied around me and I’m very grateful for their support. I was delighted when I finally got to ring the bell which signified the end of my treatment. I am now on prostrap injections (for 5-10 years) which induces menopause. Going into menopause has been extremely challenging, but for me it was a good treatment option, instead of chemotherapy.

“The last year has been a complete emotional rollercoaster, but I am so thankful that my cancer was detected at an early and treatable stage. I believe that Action Cancer saved my life and I and my family will be forever grateful to this wonderful charity.”

Action Cancer, Northern Ireland’s leading local cancer charity, has launched its Breast Friends campaign ahead of October which marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Breast Friends campaign seeks to highlight the importance of breast screening, raise awareness of early detection, and celebrate the power of friendship and community in the fight against breast cancer.The campaign encourages women to get together this October and hold a fundraiser in support of Action Cancer’s unique breast screening service, for well women aged 40–49 and over 70 (outside of NHS screening age range).

With one in ten women in Northern Ireland expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, early detection through screening remains the most effective way to save lives.

Action Cancer delivers screening to 7,500 women every year. Each screening is free to the woman but costs the charity £120 to deliver each appointment. Screening takes place at Action Cancer House and on board the Big Bus mobile unit (supported by SuperValu and Centra). Fundraising generated from the Breast Friends campaign will help fund appointments for local women in your community.

The new Breast Friends campaign highlights the importance of early detection while celebrating the power of friendship and community. Women are encouraged to book screenings together and remind their loved ones to do the same. They can also support the service by hosting fundraising events such as coffee mornings, pamper days, paint-and-sip nights or girls’ nights in at home, salons, or gyms.

Eadaoin Smith, Advanced Practice Radiographer at Action Cancer, said: “The Breast Friends campaign is about more than raising awareness; it’s about harnessing the strength of community and encouraging women to look out for one another. For every 1,000 breast screenings, we are detecting six breast cancers. Every Wednesday afternoon we release appointments for public booking on the Action Cancer website. By attending breast screening appointments and sharing the message with friends, we can detect cancers earlier and ultimately save more lives.”

Jacqueline is now backing the campaign as an Action Cancer ambassador.

“I believe Action Cancer saved my life through early breast cancer detection and I am sharing my own personal cancer story to spread awareness,” she said.

“As the face of the Breast Friends campaign, I will be using my platform as an Artist and Content Creator on social media to encourage as many women as possible to get behind this wonderful charity and host a pink event this October. This could be a paint-and-sip event, coffee morning or Girls’ Night In.

“Take time out of your busy schedule and use this as a great excuse to get the girls together for an overdue catch-up. Through your Breast Friends event, funds raised could make all the difference in saving the life of a local woman in your community.”

As a special way to support the campaign, Olivia’s Haven (with stores in Belfast and Coleraine, and online) has created a bespoke pink Breast Friends wax halo melt, priced at £8 will be available during the month October. Every purchase will directly fund Action Cancer’s life-saving breast screening service, making it a perfect gift for yourself or a loved one while supporting local women.

To take on a Breast Friends Fundraiser, contact Lisa McClenaghan for a fundraising pack at E. breastfriends@actioncancer.org or call 028 9080 3361.

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