The GAA Social with former Derry keeper Eoin McNicholl
This week on the GAA Social, Thomas Niblock and Oisin McConville speak to former Derry goalkeeper Eoin McNicholl. The 41-year-old, who works in statistics with Ulster GAA, has been diagnosed with testicular cancer. McNicholl won an All-Ireland minor title in 2002 with the Oak Leaf County, plus MacRory and Hogan Cup medals with St Patrick's College, Maghera, before representing his county at senior level.
Tragedy hit his family 30 years ago when younger sister Clodagh, aged six, died of brain cancer and now Eoin is dealing with his own recent diagnosis for which he is now receiving chemotherapy. Speaking about his condition to "raise awareness", the Glenullin man tells of finding a lump for which he sought medical advice. "It was what I needed to hear," the married father of three told the podcast.
"He [doctor] didn't hold anything back, but it was broken down to me in a way I could digest. "As soon as he said the word 'cancer', it was nearly a moment you see in those war films where someone throws a grenade, all you can hear is ringing but see people talking and you're not hearing what they're saying. He was talking at me for a period of time and I just wasn't taking it in.
"Sinead [his wife] was in a bad way, I probably shed a tear or two but quickly turned into process mode as to what I needed to do. " Eoin underwent surgery the following week and a subsequent CT scan leaving a period of waiting until the next set of results. "They said after the original surgery, I am 80-85% better, but me being a statistics person, I always feel 85% could be better," he added.
"Chemo can bring that down to two or three percent, so it was a no-brainer. " He admits chemotherapy has been "tough going" but he is "feeling 95% normal now" and has high hopes of a full recovery. "Fingers crossed that if the next CT scan comes in and the lymph modes are still low, I won't need to go for another round of chemo.