Majella O’Donnell Opens Up About Recent Cancer Scares and Ongoing Fear of Recurrence
Dublin, Ireland — Television personality and singer Majella O’Donnell, wife of beloved country star Daniel O’Donnell, has spoken candidly about her ongoing health anxieties following her 2013 breast cancer diagnosis. In a heartfelt interview with the Irish Mirror, the 57-year-old revealed that she has faced two recent cancer scares, the latest just weeks ago, reigniting fears that the disease could return.
Majella was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, a battle she faced with remarkable courage. During that time, she made headlines when she allowed her head to be shaved live on The Late Late Show, raising over €600,000 for the Irish Cancer Society. Since completing her chemotherapy and receiving the all-clear, she has remained a strong advocate for cancer awareness. However, she admits the psychological toll of living with the fear of recurrence has not diminished.
“A couple of weeks back I found a lump in my neck, it was my lymph gland which was swollen. Straight away I thought, ‘lymph gland, it’s back.’ It’s scary,” Majella recalled. She immediately underwent a series of medical tests, including MRIs, a CT scan, bone scans, and blood work. Fortunately, the results revealed the swelling was due to an infection, not a recurrence of cancer.
Still, the experience highlights the lingering anxiety that cancer survivors often face. Majella admitted she sometimes worries she has become a “hypochondriac,” constantly fearing that any minor symptom could signal the disease’s return. “In the last two years, twice I’ve gone to the oncologist and said, ‘something’s not right,’ and she’s checked me and I’m grand,” she explained.
Her grandmother passed away from breast cancer, and that family history has compounded her concerns. Majella now undergoes regular check-ups every six months. Ironically, she says the further she gets from her original diagnosis, the more her worries increase. “After I had the cancer treatment the first couple of years after it was great, you were over it. But when you’re over it for four years you start to worry. That’s the only thing. I do feel, and it’s a bit of a shame, that I’m looking over my shoulder,” she said.
The B&B Road Trip star also shared her solidarity with others fighting similar battles. She revealed she had reached out to singer and actress Olivia Newton-John, who faced a recurrence of breast cancer decades after her first diagnosis. “I’ve met Olivia a few times. I haven’t spoken to her since but I did send her a message. After twenty something years and you get it back again, it’s very disappointing. For somebody like me as well it makes me think, ‘it’s always there in the background, is it waiting to come and bite me on the bum again?’”
Despite her struggles with post-cancer anxiety, Majella remains determined to live life fully. Her husband Daniel O’Donnell has often praised her courage and resilience, both during her treatment and in the years since. Together, the couple continue to enjoy their careers, family life, and public appearances, while Majella remains open about her journey to raise awareness of the emotional realities many survivors face.
Health experts note that her experiences are not uncommon. Anxiety about recurrence is one of the most frequently reported issues among cancer survivors, sometimes lasting decades after treatment. Majella’s candidness not only sheds light on this ongoing struggle but also offers reassurance to others navigating the same fears.
As Majella continues her regular health checks and embraces the life she has rebuilt, her story remains one of both resilience and honesty. It reflects the complex reality of survivorship: the joy of recovery tempered by the shadow of what might return. For fans who have followed her journey since 2013, Majella O’Donnell’s openness is both comforting and inspiring, reminding many that courage is not the absence of fear, but the strength to face it.