Taking part in TV show reminded me how lucky I am to have such a supportive family 

I could hear the crackle of cars on the driveway in my childhood bedroom. It was early morning, and the butterflies in my tummy had taken flight. The familiar sound meant that the TV production crew we were expecting had arrived in Woodside. I quickly made my way to the kitchen, where Mum was running around, preparing for a day that would be huge for her. She was about to tell the story of her experience of cancer for Ear to the Ground on RTÉ Television. I stopped her. I gave her a hug. I told her to breathe.

She had only received chemotherapy the day before, and steroids were keeping her going. I wanted to give her a minute of calm before launching into a really important, yet emotional task. My mother…