Recovery from cancer is not just physical, it can take a huge emotional toll as well, a Dublin mother of two who was diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 30s has warned.

Sarah Murray was just 32 years of age, with a one-year-old daughter, when she noticed a swelling under her arm. This turned out to be breast cancer and Ms Murray subsequently underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

"The chemo and radiotherapy were very tough, but it was the period after treatment I found the most difficult. People expect you to go back to normal. But for me, that's when the reality of what I had gone through really hit me. I was very anxious and depressed and found it hard to cope. I felt my body had betrayed me and was constantly worried about the cancer coming back," she explained.

Ms Murray is the face of this year's Irish Cancer Society's Daffodil Day fundraiser, which takes place on March 22. She said after her treatment, she got a lot of support from the society's free Nurseline and its Daffodil Centre.

"It helped so much to talk to someone who understood what I was going through and could answer my questions. I called the Nurseline again recently when I was worried about my check-up and it helped calm me down. Talking is so important, because recovery isn't just physical, it's mental too," she said.

Ms Murray is calling on the public to support this year's Daffodil Day. All funds raised will be spent on services for cancer patients, including the Nurseline and counselling.

According to the society's CEO, Averil Power, increased demand means not everyone who needs help is getting it.

"Each day in Ireland, 150 people are diagnosed with cancer. We want to be there for every one of them with free support from our nurses and counselling sessions in local cancer centres nationwide.

"But as 98% of our funding comes from donations, we cannot do that without a strong Daffodil Day. That's why this Friday, we're calling on communities all over Ireland to come together, support cancer patients and ensure no one has to go through cancer alone," Ms Power commented.

For more information on Daffodil Day, click here

*Pictured is Sarah Murray, with her children Sadie and Sean