Noonan says cancer ‘another thing that happens’

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has revealed that he discovered a cancerous lump on his shoulder in February while in the shower.

Mr Noonan was upbeat when he spoke publicly this morning for the first time about his treatment and said he was “very confident” he could continue in his position.

“I’ve another budget I need to bring in and another one after that,” he said.

Asked to describe his experience, Mr Noonan replied that it had been a common one.

“You’re showering in the morning and suddenly your fingers run over something and you think, ‘Jesus, there’s a lump there, I better get it checked’.”

He said he let 10 days pass before getting the lump examined.

Mr Noonan said the day after being diagnosed with a sarcoma on his right arm he told Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

He said they did not have “lengthy discussions” but Mr Noonan kept Mr Kenny informed “with a sentence here and a sentence there”, informing the Taoiseach when he was going into hospital and so on.

Mr Noonan received five weeks radiotherapy at St Luke’s Hospital to shrink the sarcoma during March and April, and it was removed last Wednesday at Cappagh Hospital. He was discharged on Sunday.

In a statement released last night, Mr Noonan said his medical team believed the treatment had gone well and were “upbeat about the prognosis”.

He also said there was no damage to his shoulder muscle and “my risk of recurrence is low”.

This morning he confirmed he had a wound on his right shoulder and was on strong painkillers.

Asked if his medical team had told him to take it easy, Mr Noonan said: “Ah yeah, sure doctors always tell you take it easy.”

He said he was not shocked by what had happened to him, given the knowledge he had gained during his time as minister for health.

“One in every three people in Ireland unfortunately get cancer some time in their lifetime. So it’s, you know, it’s another thing that happens one.”

He said he had “kept the circle tight”, telling only his immediate family and a few close political colleagues.

Mr Noonan said it was his intention at the moment to stand again for election in Limerick.

He confirmed he had started preparations for the budget on Tuesday, October 14th and had held talks with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin.

Key officials had been asked to take their holidays in July so they could begin work in August, he said.