The period from primary to secondary school can be very transitional for any student but for one Monaghan teenager dealing with a cancer diagnosis had to be front and centered.
Beech hill College student Francis Balmer didn't know the extent of the illness that he was going through until he reached the age of 13. The then teenager was diagnosed with a form of brain cancer and then had to undergo chemo therapy.
Francis said his mood took a massive dip and felt very frustrated resulting in his mental health taking a massive tole. He said along with his chemo, he also had to travel to Germany for a three week period for further procedures.
The now 18 year old said over the three year period he took it day by day and had to just battle on and eventually coming out the winner with a cancer free diagnosis. Francis had to be courageous and resilient during him cancer journey and is now gearing up to sit his Leaving Cert exams in the coming months and looking ahead to a bright future. The Monaghan man says even during the most difficult times, its important to say positive and not to focus on the diagnosis at hand.
