“I’m not throwing in the towel. Even though I have incurable cancer, I’m not throwing in the towel… I have a life to live and I’ve craic to be had so that’s what I’m going to do.”
Clare native Laura Brennan was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016 and after initially receiving the all-clear from doctors following a period of treatment, she was subsequently told that it was incurable.
Prior to her appearance on the Late Late Show on Friday night, Laura (25), has publicly spoken of how young girls should be vaccinated against the HPV virus, one of the chief causes of cervical cancer, a vaccination that wasn’t available to Laura when she attended school.
On the Late Late Show, Laura shared the story of her diagnosis and viewers couldn’t help but be inspired by her remarkable positivity in the wake of such devastating news.
Speaking to Ryan Tubridy about the day she was told her cancer was incurable, Laura described her reaction after being asked by the doctor why she wasn’t upset and spoke of her determination to make the most of her life for as long as she can.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SyL5Ayt9y8
Laura also explained why she advocates so passionately for the HPV vaccine, while her parents watched on from the audience.
“I don’t want any mother, father, sister, brother, friends or family to lose someone to such a horrible illness,” Laura said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CEzrxOKl0Q
Clips via The Late Late Show
Laura’s story, and her dignity and positivity, had a profound effect on the audience in studio and on viewers watching at home.
https://twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD/status/984896946371428352
https://twitter.com/LadiesFootball/status/984897954346659842
https://twitter.com/IMO_IRL/status/984899592365002752
https://twitter.com/nbrez/status/984899812964347904
For more information on the HPV vaccine, check out the
HSE website.
