Strip and Dip for Childhood Cancer is going virtual THIS SATURDAY

Today Cancer Survivor Lorraine Taylor joins us to share all the details about this weekend’s Virtual Strip & Dip Fundraiser for Childhood Cancer. Childhood Cancer Never Stops and Neither Do We! This weekend we are hoping to hold the World’s…

On sale now: Happy Magazine Cancer Journal

I am so proud to release the Happy Magazine Cancer Journal for sale today. This was a pure labour of love, it wasn’t work at all. I really enjoyed imagining my perfect journal for a cancer journey (if you have…

BIG NEWS! Announcing the Happy Magazine Cancer Journal

Over the past few months I’ve been working on a very special Happy Magazine project. It has kept me very happily busy during Lockdown and also super positive through my own ongoing cancer treatment. It’s a PRETTY cancer journal –…

The 4 bras every woman needs for life after breast surgery

I’m delighted to welcome Valerie Murphy back to the online pages of Happy Magazine. Valerie has just launched her new website Valerie’s Breast Care for women in the Mid-West of Ireland. It’s well worth a look if you are having…

Coping With Coronavirus: How To Stay Calm and Protect your Mental Health

A regular reader of Happy Magazine told me about this gem ❤️ If you or someone you know is struggling with coping with Coronavirus and all that it brings, this short book might be just the tool you need. It’s…

Your Stories: Klara McDonnell on slowing down for cancer

Today we are joined by Klara McDonnell, a singer/songwriter and actor from Dublin. Klara was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in December and is currently doing treatment. She is rocking her unique sense of style all the way to…

*NOW CLOSED* A giveaway for Cocooners – 5 cancer journals to be won!

I’ve got a special giveaway for Happy Magazine this week, with the prizes from none other than my own amazing Mom! My mom has been training herself in graphic design over the past few years (smart or what?) and sells…

Helpful products and services for cancer patients during COVID-19 *EXTRA LONG POST!*

I have been collecting a list of helpful products and services I have discovered as a cancer patient again over the past couple of months. Most of these are small Irish businesses who are working harder than ever to support…

Active Coping Calendar for April

The world is in crisis. Keep Calm, Stay Wise & Be Kind. This Active Coping Calendar from Action for Happiness has daily actions for April 2020 to help us look after ourselves and each other as we face this global crisis together. Download…

Your Stories: A gap year with a difference – By Avril Patton

For many, a cancer diagnosis is an unexpected “gap year”, hopefully, never to be repeated. A year where our courage and strength is tested and we learn things we never knew about ourselves. Today Reader Avril Patton joins us to…

Yoga during cancer treatment – An immune boosting sequence from Aileen Slein

Today I am thrilled to share a home yoga sequence video with you from fellow cancer fighter, Aileen Slein. Aileen is currently going through chemo and wanted to share her favourite immune boosting yoga sequence with all of us here…

Getting creative: Making pebble art with Cathy McCarthy

Looking for a way to get creative during Ireland’s #StayHome initiative? Contributor Cathy McCarthy joins us today with an easy art tutorial you can follow along at home. She will show you how, with a few simple supplies, you can…

5 ways to help a friend with cancer during the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis

Do you know someone going through cancer right now? Here are 5 practical ways you can help them during the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis. 1. Video call them instead of visiting Many cancer patients (especially those on chemotherapy) will be self-isolating…

BARGAIN ALERT! Health and wellness books are on sale at The Book People

The Book People have a clearance sale on at the moment and there are some really awesome bargains to be had, especially in the Health, Lifestyle & Wellbeing section. I’ve picked a few that I fancy to show you below…

Why I Relay – Gay’s Story

Today Gay Murphy joins us to share her personal cancer story and tell us all about why she got involved with Relay for Life Wexford – a remarkable fundraising event happening again this July in aid of the Irish Cancer…

A shareable video for friends and family – What to say to someone going through cancer

This video caught my eye yesterday. There are some practical points in here from popular YouTube Creator Jay Shetty about what to say to someone going through cancer. I think it’s a good one for sharing with friends and family…

What to expect from hair regrowth after chemo

If you’re undergoing chemotherapy currently, or about to start treatment, then you might want to know what to expect in terms of hair regrowth afterwards. How long will it take to grow back? Will it look like it did before?…

Supporting each other on World Cancer Day

Happy Magazine Contributor Cathy McCarthy attended a Cancer Support Information Evening during the week at Meaghers Pharmacy in Churchtown, Dublin. She wrote this event report for us. You may or may not have known that last Tuesday, 4 February was…

I will not die from cancer – this is my decision

This is how it is in my head today. I will not die from cancer. I will live for my little boy, my Husband, my family, my friends, my readers. This is my decision and I can do it. There…

This waterproof sleeve works wonders for picc lines

Last Monday I had a picc line inserted in my left upper arm to help make my chemo infusions a little easier. I’d been having quite a bit of trouble with my veins and was starting to look purple and…

Intimacy after cancer, loss of libido and menopause – By Trina Cleary

Sexual intimacy after cancer treatment is a difficult issue for many. Today we’re joined by Breast Cancer Survivor and Theya Healthcare Ambassador Trina Cleary who shares her thoughts on moving forward with her life after cancer and some of the…

8 minutes of pure relaxation – Weightless by Marconi Union

So this came up in my Instagram feed the other day and I just had to investigate… A song that can reduce anxiety? Really? Now how about that! So I had a listen. And it is lovely. And also very,…

*NOW CLOSED* Giveaway! Win yourself a Cancer Care Parcel on Happy Magazine

The lovely team at Cancer Care Parcel in the UK have sent us three amazing gift hampers to give away. We’ve got two Deluxe Chemo Patient Gift Packages, suitable for anyone going through chemo at the moment, and one Animal…

Free download: Recipe booklet for people living with cancer

The World Cancer Research Fund is a UK charity dedicated to funding  research into the prevention of cancer through diet and lifestyle and cancer survival. This week they launched their Ryan Riley recipe booklet, as part of their Life Kitchen…

Your Stories: Ruth Barry on the power of positive support during cancer

Today we’re welcoming Ruth Barry from North Dublin to share her story with us. Ruth gives some fantastic first-hand advice for a breast cancer journey, we hope you find her story helpful and inspiring. Your name, age and where you’re…

6 ways to support a friend with cancer – what they wish you knew

Supporting a friend through a cancer diagnosis is a difficult thing and it can be very hard to know where to start and how to understand how they’re feeling. We’ve put together the following points to help, based on the…

Niall Breslin’s new podcast series: Where is my Mind?

Songwriter and mental health activist Niall Breslin has launched his own podcast series titled ‘Where is my Mind?’ Available to listen to now across all streaming platforms, the six episode podcast series aims to guide listeners on how to navigate…

Your Stories: Trina Cleary shares her mastectomy experience

Today we’re welcoming Trina Cleary back to Happy Magazine. Trina is 34, from Wexford and currently going through treatment for breast cancer. This is a post from her personal blog, all about her recent mastectomy. Trina gives lots of helpful…

How you might feel after cancer treatment and ways to cope

By Orion Talmay, for Happy Magazine. Whether it’s chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or something else, you’re going to experience a whole range of different — and unexpected — emotions after you finish cancer treatment. Of course, some of these will be…

How to set goals during cancer

Clare Reed, our CBT for Cancer Therapist, joins us today with a post on the importance of living during cancer treatment – including the setting and achieving of goals. Don’t let end of treatment be your goal – make life…