Hello, my name is Nuala, and I was born in Armagh, Northern Ireland and I have been living in Merseyside for the last 24 years. I have two teenage children, Hugo and Hannah.
I was living and studying at Liverpool John Moores University, and I had gone home for the weekend to visit my mum, when she noticed that I had a brown spot on my iris, and it was usually blue. My mum said I should get it checked out, but I thought it was no big deal, as many people have different coloured eyes.
I went to the optician, and they told me to go directly to a doctor and later that day I was sent to Belfast to see a cancer specialist.
Tumours on the iris are so rare that the consultant in Belfast said that he has only seen one once before. He asked me if I could go to Liverpool, where they have the Ocular Oncology Centre.
Initially, I felt absolutely terrified, but the consultant in Liverpool put my mind at ease. He told me that iris tumours tended to be very slow growing and that it may not spread at all.
However, there was a small risk that it could spread, so I was offered proton beam radiotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Wirral at The National Centre for Eye Proton Therapy.
Eye proton therapy is a type of radiotherapy that can treat some cancers of the eye. It uses low-energy proton beams to target the cancer very precisely without damaging surrounding tissue.
Since having treatment, I have learned that this type of proton beam radiotherapy is not available in many countries, so I was incredibly fortunate to have access to it. The machines are enormous, and I had to wear a specially fitted mask. It was quite daunting at first.
However, the staff at Clatterbridge were all incredibly professional, patient and friendly and they made the whole experience so much easier. I can never thank them enough for their kindness to me and the others who had treatment that week.
About 40% of all UK patients diagnosed with a type of eye cancer called ocular melanoma will have eye proton therapy at Clatterbridge.
Patients are referred to the centre from all over the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.
Ever since, I have had treatment, I have been raising money for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity as I will never be able to repay what my treatment must have cost, so I am trying to raise whatever little amounts I can.
So, in February this year, my daughter Hannah and I took part in the Glow Green Walk. We both loved getting kitted out in our green tutus and walking through Liverpool in the dark with a massive crowd of people singing and dancing.
And on April 13th, my son Hugo and I will take part in the Mersey Tunnel 10k for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity. I wanted to do something with my son, who is 15 years old, a cross-country runner and fit as a fiddle. He might have to slow down to run alongside me, but we are both looking forward in taking part in an event together and raising funds for a charity close to our hearts.
You can learn more about the National Centre for Eye Proton Therapy at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Wirral here.
