'I'm fortunate I survived a stage 4 diagnosis when so many didn't make it'
Lynette McHendry, a breast cancer survivor, shares her decade-long journey with stage 4 cancer and her advocacy for better treatment access in Northern Ireland. Her story highlights both the personal struggle of the disease and the positive impact of recent medical advancements.
Why it matters
Personal accounts of cancer survival help drive public awareness and policy audits regarding healthcare accessibility and treatment standards.
Image caption, Lynette McHendry is now eight years in breast cancer remission
Health correspondent, BBC News NI Published 29 July 2026, 00:00 BST It's been a decade of treatments, trials and many tears for Lynette McHendry – but also hope and resilience.
Diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer 10 years ago, aged 37, she has defied the odds to face down a disease that made her feel "invisible", while also fighting for access to the treatment that ultimately saved her life, but was not available to her in Northern Ireland.
Ten years ago, a stage four cancer diagnosis may have felt like a "death sentence," but Lynette's story also points towards the advancements in treatment and drugs, which she believes will allow more women to live longer with the disease.
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