Broadcaster and mental health advocate, Keith Walsh, is the special guest at a forthcoming webinar being organised by Brain Tumour Ireland that seeks to encourage carers of people with brain tumours to think about their own well-being, as well as that of their loved ones.
The webinar, “Who cares for me? Challenging the carer to care for themselves too”, is taking place on Tuesday October 22 at 6pm as part of National Brain Tumour Awareness Week (October 21 to 27). It aims to explore how stress can manifest itself as compassion fatigue and burnout, and what we can do to prevent this with some helpful self-care tips and advice.
The event, which will be hosted by leading psychotherapist Bríd O’Meara, will also feature contributions from Limerick man, Tony Barry (age 37), who was diagnosed with a brain tumour just last year, and his mother, Lucy. Tony and Lucy will share their insights and perspectives on care, and how they navigated a very challenging time, then and now.
Registration is free and is now open at www.braintumourireland.com
Latest figures
Latest figures from the National Cancer Registry (2019-2021) show that there are approximately 800 people diagnosed with a brain or other central nervous system (CNS) tumour each year in Ireland, including around 60 children and young people. The National Cancer Registry also notes that, in the period 2011-2020, brain and CNS tumours were the most common childhood cancer (0-15 years), accounting for 27 per cent of cancers, along with leukaemia (also 27 per cent), and the third most common cancer in adolescents and young adults (16-24 years), accounting for 15 per cent of cancers.
For broadcaster and mental health advocate, Keith Walsh, finding moments to recharge is key:
“Caring for someone you love can feel like a vocation—it’s a huge sacrifice, and it’s easy to lose sight of yourself in the process. That’s why this event is so important, as it’s aimed at carers, reminding them that taking care of their own well-being isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. By finding moments to recharge, for example, mindfulness, reconnecting with creativity, or exercise, whatever brings you peace, you’re actually strengthening your ability to support your loved one. The best way to help others is by taking some time for yourself.”
For psychotherapist, Bríd O’Meara, people caring for others, first need to care for themselves:
“Caring can be both physically and emotionally draining. Without good self-care, longer-term caring may lead to stress, and even compassion fatigue or burnout. Norm Kelly coined the phrase ‘you cannot pour from an empty cup’. Nobody can. We need to practice self-care to be able to refill our cup. If you’re caring for a loved one, I’d urge you to take care to mind yourself too. Do something that you enjoy and that gives you pleasure. Build yourself a support network, including people you can call out-of-hours. Make sure you eat well. A balanced diet will support your body to remain strong and healthy and give you energy. Finally, try to get a good night’s sleep. Your lack of sleep can impact your ability to concentrate, to make good decisions and can have a negative impact on mood.”
Minding Yourself to Mind Others
Tony Barry was out running in September 2023 when he collapsed on the side of the road. He would subsequently be diagnosed with an astrocytoma, a type of brain tumour, and would undergo surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. His mum, Lucy, has been there for him throughout:
“On leaving hospital after surgery, I felt weak and low. Even though I had my own place, I stayed at home for a short while. Mum made so many dinners. There’s a lot to be said for a home-cooked meal for which I’m very grateful. As I was off the road, due to the possibility of having a seizure, she also ferried me to and from all of my medical appointments. She helped to build my confidence back up too, reassuring me that everything would be OK. I did, however, become conscious that mum was perhaps doing too much and that I needed to regain some of my own independence and to do things for myself. Other family members, along with friends, jumped in to alleviate some of the pressure on mum, so she could resume some of her own life. I also reached out to her friends to make sure that they were keeping in touch with her too.”
Barry’s mum, Lucy, recognised that, after a few months of trying to be Superwoman in looking after Tony, that she would need to take some time out for herself:
“We’re still coming to terms with Tony’s diagnosis a year later. We worried about so much. The surgery, the outcome, how Tony would deal with things. There were 101 things that you worry about. Like all mothers, I swung into action and was like Superwoman trying to cover every base. After a while, you realise that’s not healthy either for yourself or for Tony. It’s also not sustainable. After four or five months, I was losing perspective on the situation and I felt I was going under a little. I realised that to support Tony, I was going to have to get my own life back on track. I attended counselling, started walking again and linked in with friends who were extremely supportive. I realised that life has to be lived alongside the tumour and that it can be lived well by keeping myself in a good space on a daily basis. We, as a family, move forward positively.”
Put On Your Oxygen Mask First!
Fiona Keegan, CEO, Brain Tumour Ireland, adds that it’s often a huge shock for families to assume a caring role and that they need support:
“We are all familiar with the announcement on airplanes before take-off to put on your oxygen mask first before tending to others. The same is true when looking after someone with a brain tumour. You have to make sure that you are giving yourself room to breathe too. The reality is that I don’t think anyone expects to be diagnosed with a brain tumour and so, when it happens, it can lead to tremendous upheaval not only in the life of the person diagnosed, but in family life too. Partners, parents, siblings, and sometimes offspring, will have to come to terms with a new reality supporting a loved one who can have a wide range of challenges to cope with, from the physical to the emotional. That’s why when caring for a person with a brain tumour, it’s important to take some time every day for yourself.”
Other events taking place as part of the week include: a “Write Your Story” workshop series for family carers; an update on research in Ireland; a series of bedtime stories for children read by leading brain tumour oncologists; and a charity music night, Tunes for Tumours, featuring music artists ANDI, Leona McManus, Claire Malone, and Pamela Tully. For full details on all of the events taking place as part of National Brain Tumour Awareness Week, check out www.braintumourireland.com
If you have questions about brain tumours, or want to find out more about the work of Brain Tumour Ireland, telephone 085 7219000, Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm. Follow on social media: Facebook @braintumourireland; Instagram @brain_tumour_ireland; and X @braintumourirl
| Your Brain Tumour Questions Answered
How does a brain tumour happen? A tumour or cancer in the brain is when cells grow abnormally causing disruption to normal cell function. Brain tumours are usually named after the type of brain cell from which they come, or the location of the brain in which they are found. They can be benign as well as malignant, with benign tumours sometimes growing for many years before reaching a large size and being detected, while malignant tumours usually grow more rapidly leading to their discovery. Tumours are generally graded from one to four, to reflect how quickly the tumour might grow. It is estimated that there are more than 150 types of brain tumour. What is my risk of developing a brain tumour? As we get older, our risk of developing any cancer, including brain cancer, increases. The incidence of brain cancer is more common in people between the ages of 50 and 75 years. Previous radiation exposure to the head, most often in the form of radiotherapy for another condition, increases risk. A family history of certain genetic conditions, for example, neurofibromatosis, also increases a person’s risk. What possible signs of a brain tumour should I look out for? The signs and symptoms of brain tumours vary according to the size, location and type of tumour. A brain tumour will cause symptoms either when it presses on the brain or if it grows into, or invades, the brain tissue. Symptoms can include vision problems, speech difficulties, paralysis, seizures, nausea, vomiting, personality changes and memory loss. Severe and repeated headaches associated with throwing up, or which are worse in the morning time, should be investigated. Does everyone with a brain tumour experience seizures? Seizures are quite common for people with a brain tumour, though not all, and are caused by a burst of electrical activity in the brain. Symptoms can include shaking, staring blankly, becoming unresponsive or unconscious. People experiencing seizures can be given anticonvulsants to try to stop them from happening. What are the treatment possibilities for someone with a brain tumour? It’s important to know that not all brain tumours are the same. Certain tumours may remain the same size and not cause any symptoms, and continue to be observed. Other tumours may require surgical removal, or require radiotherapy or chemotherapy. For more information on brain tumours, check out Brain Tumours – A Guide for Patients and Families published by Beaumont Hospital in partnership with Brain Tumour Ireland, at www.braintumourireland.com |
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