Support our colleague Niamh

Dear Colleagues

As many of you know our dear friend and colleague Niamh Ui Mhuircheartaigh was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in February 2023, aged just 39. Niamh is mum to Oisín (9), Caoilinn (8), Ruaidhrí (5) and Fionn (2). Fionn was just 6 months old when Niamh became unwell.

Niamh’s cancer was diagnosed after a few weeks of headaches and vomiting, and it transpired that she had a tumour on her brain. Scans revealed that Niamh also had tumours on her colon and liver. Niamh firstly underwent life saving craniotomy surgery to remove the brain tumour, followed by radiation and spent time in ICU. Niamh then commenced chemotherapy but when they discovered she had a BRAF mutation, she elected to try out a targeted therapy which might work to stabilise the cancer as an alternative first line. After three months the primary tumour on her colon and the liver tumour reduced in size.

Elective surgery was planned on Niamh’s primary tumour in August 2023, but unfortunately due to complications, Niamh needed emergency surgery in July 2023, which left her unable to eat any food for weeks and she had nutrition via an IV infusion. Niamh went back to the targeted therapy drugs in August 2023, and in October 2023 underwent a further surgery to remove a liver tumour.

In December 2023, scans revealed that Niamh’s cancer had spread so she added chemotherapy to the targeted therapy drugs. During this period Niamh was in a lot of pain and her quality of life deteriorated, so in April 2024 she agreed with her oncologist to drop the targeted therapy drugs but remain on chemotherapy. Scans in May 2024 revealed the chemotherapy wasn’t working, and unfortunately further spots were detected on Niamh’s liver.

Niamh continued to fight, and switched to a different chemotherapy which did work for a while to shrink and stabilise the tumours.

In September 2024, tests showed that this treatment was no longer effective so after 18 rounds of chemo Niamh paused treatment. The latest scans reveal that the cancer has spread extensively in her liver, to the point where any further surgery is no longer a possibility. Having used up all the main lines of treatment available, Niamh is now commencing on a clinical trial drug, which shows early trial evidence regarding its efficiency for the BRAF mutation. As these clinical trial drugs are new and unregulated by the European Medicines Agency, this treatment will be self-funded. The cost of the treatment is expected to be in the region of €50 - €80k.

The BRAF mutation that Niamh has is exceptionally challenging. Niamh lives in rebellious hope and is keen to explore every treatment that will give her precious time with her children and family to make more memories. Niamh tries to maintain a normal life when possible, and still enjoys running and completing the park runs. Niamh’s strength, courage and resilience knows no bounds.

Niamh has worked in Irish Life Health since 2017 where she is a much loved member of the Finance and Risk teams. We know that many of her friends and colleagues in Irish Life want to support Niamh as she embarks on this next course of treatment, and we greatly appreciate all donations to make that possible.

Many thanks,

Susie St Ledger, Tara Noonan, Ann Marie Nestor, Cliona Merrigan