Margaret Ritchie opens up about cancer battle

13 June 2018

MARGARET Ritchie’s cancer diagnosis hasn’t been a secret in her home town — but this week many people across Northern Ireland were shocked to learn the news.

Now having opened up about her breast cancer treatment, the former South Down MP and one-time SDLP party leader has support pouring in from across the country and all shades of political life.

Her main aim in talking about her condition, though, is to encourage other women to keep their breast screening appointments. It was a routine appointment that spotted her own cancer and Ms Ritchie’s prognosis is good following surgery.

After her diagnosis in February and mastectomy in March, she is now half way through her chemotherapy, with radiotherapy to follow. And while many find this a gruelling process, so far Miss Ritchie is feeling very positive.

She has also been “very moved” to have received so many message of support, via phone, text and social media.

“I have great family and friends who have been supportive but it has also been moving to have so many other people across the community get in touch,” she said.

Miss Ritchie was on BBC’s The View to talk on another topic when the conversation turned to her own health.

“I’m not doing it for me,” she said. “I’m doing it for women. If you can be upfront with women and inspire them to go and look after themselves that’s a good thing.

“It wasn’t my first screening, and there is no breast cancer in my family, so it just shows you the importance of these tests in picking up something you are unaware of.

“I never made this a secret from day one and I think that it’s good to talk about it.”

Miss Ritchie has nothing but the highest praise for the health care professionals looking after her at the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital. It is an opportunity, however, for her to highlight the pressure they and other medical services are under.

“The volume of people coming through the doors is incredible,” she said. “But you don’t feel like a number. You have their undivided attention. They have got to give you individual attention as your treatment is always individual.

“But when you see at first hand some of the pressures hospitals are under it really does bring home the importance of getting the political institutions up and running again so they can get all the financial support they deserve.”

Losing her Westminster seat last year was clearly a blow to the 60 year-old political veteran, who was always used to campaigning on behalf of other people. While still involved in political life and community work in the aftermath, it was clearly a period of adjustment in her life.

The next, and possibly hardest battle, though, is learning to take it easy.

“This is probably harder because it’s about my health, but I have been told that it’s treatable breast cancer and I’m looking forward to recovery,” she said.

“I’m used to be being out and about and working for other people but I admit I am now also having to think about me.”

Amidst the support pouring in for Miss Ritchie have been messages of encouragement from DUP leader Arlene Foster, who called her a “tenacious public representative”, Sinn Fein

President Mary Lou McDonald, who wished her a “full and speedy recovery”, and new Sinn Fein South Down MP Chris Hazzard, who in a tweet described Miss Ritchie as “a strong woman who will no doubt make a strong recovery”.

“Lots of support and well wishes from all of us in South Down,” he said.

Miss Ritchie said she was delighted to have received so much goodwill and messages of support.

“I think illness transcends all those political differences so that’s a good thing,” she said. “There is also community support, which I am very pleased about.

“But again, I point out, it’s not about me. It’s about women and women’s health care and the need to give our excellent healthcare staff the funding they need.”

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