Jenny Murphy fought a decade-long battle against a rare type of cancer
08:59, 28 Feb 2026Updated 09:27, 28 Feb 2026
Jenny Murphy(Image: RIP.ie)
Tributes are pouring in from across Ireland and beyond following the death of a young Cork woman, who sadly passed away after a decade-long battle with a rare form of cancer.
Jenny Murphy, from Monkstown, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family at her home on Wednesday. An inspiration to many, Jenny had documented her years-long fight against Sarcoma with her videos, touching the lives of thousands of people. In recent years, she also raised more than €40,000 for the cancer charity Sarcoma UK.
A notice shared by her family on RIP.ie reads: “On February 25th, 2026, peacefully, surrounded by her loving family at home, Jenny, cherished daughter of Christine and the late Ciarán, adored sister of Aoife and Tom. Deeply missed by her dear family, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives, neighbours and her wide circle of forever friends.”
Jenny’s funeral took place on Friday, and instead of flowers, her family asked for donations to The Irish Cancer Society or Marymount Hospice.
Jenny was first diagnosed with Sarcoma ten years ago, when she was just 22. In 2020, while she was living in the UK, she opened up on what it was like receiving a cancer diagnosis at such a young age:
She said: “I was first diagnosed four years ago when I was 22. I had just finished university, it was about two weeks after finishing my exams when I was diagnosed with cancer. It was a total shock. I had been feeling tired and had a bunch of random symptoms like headaches and fatigue, but I thought it was my iron or B12 or something.
“It was very surreal when I got the diagnosis. I actually didn’t hear the word cancer for a while because they had found a tumour in my abdominal area, but they thought it was a bunch of different things. A few weeks later I was told it was a leiomyosarcoma which I obviously had never heard of, it’s a type of sarcoma but they’re quite rare and then each one is even more rare again.
“Initially, I was really scared, especially because they said it was rare. No matter what cancer you get, it’s extremely terrifying, but when you hear rare, you automatically think it’s not curable, but that’s not true. But you want to get the more common ones that everyone has, so that was quite scary. I wasn’t given a treatment plan on the same day as my diagnosis, so I found that quite difficult because I didn’t know the plan,” she told RSVP Live.
“But a few days later, I met my oncologist, and she was so amazing. I had to get chemotherapy, radiotherapy and then a surgery as well, and it was a year-long [plan], so it was very tough. But having a plan in place made me feel like I was doing something to get rid of it rather than sitting there knowing it was growing. I was meant to go travelling for about five and a half weeks after college, but I had to cancel that and start treatment straight away, and I just dedicated a whole year of my life to getting better.”
Despite going through so much, Jenny remained determined and strong throughout her journey, something she credited her wonderful friends and family for helping her through: “I’ve always had a calm approach to it from the beginning, I was never hysterical about it. I’ve always remained quite level-headed and just focus on trying to stay positive and getting rid of it. I would try my best not to let my mind escape me and go to scary thoughts and places.”
Sadly, after getting the all clear, the sarcoma returned again in 2018: “The second time around was toughest on me mentally even though it was the easiest on me physically. It was very hard dealing with the fact that it had come back. It was very tiny and they spotted it very early on and I only needed a week of radiotherapy but dealing with the fact that it had come back was so challenging. I was just getting my life back on track, I had got a new job and everything.
“For my mum, she just had a blanket of worry over her at all times and that was tough to see. Even though I know it’s not my fault I felt slightly guilty for putting people through it. I felt sad for my parents and that they had to go through that again, it was tough.
“My friends have always been super supportive. They’ve never treated me like ‘poor me’ which helped me a lot because it makes me feel normal. The fact that I have such amazing support from my friends and family is honestly half the battle.
“I don’t know how I stay so positive, I think I just don’t let myself get too sad about it. It definitely happens, and I let it happen when it does but it passes. I say to myself ‘what’s the alternative? Do I sit here and wallow?’ That wouldn’t benefit me. I’ve never tried to feel sorry for myself or ask ‘why me?’ because why anyone? Nobody should have to go through this. It’s just something that happens and you have to deal with it and get through it the best you can.”
During the Summer of 2020, Jenny received her third diagnosis: “I was finally getting to the point where my scans were coming back clear and I was feeling like I’d beaten it and was getting my life back and then it came back. That was quite tough because I was just moving back to England after being in Ireland for two months and I was just getting my life back together after Covid. I hadn’t even started my new job so I had to take time off, but they were so amazing about everything and that took a lot of stress away from me.”
In a situation where many of us would give up and throw in the towel, Jenny turned her diagnosis into a positive by sharing her story online to raise funds for Sarcoma UK, as there is no Irish equivalent dedicated to sarcoma. She was inundated with online support and donations, raising an incredible £33,162 (about €36,000).
“I was totally blown away – I didn’t expect that in a million years. I put it up initially with a target of €1,000 thinking it would just be my friends and family donating. But it was amazing and I’m really glad I did it the day before my surgery because it gave me so much strength. Even afterwards, I felt like there were all these people rooting for me to do my best. It was really rewarding.
“I had a message from a woman who saw my video and her mother had unfortunately been diagnosed with sarcoma but she said it helped her, and that’s exactly why we should be raising awareness. It’s just been very nice in so many more ways than I could have imagined.
“I was very nervous to put myself out there like that, but I’m so glad I did it; it was totally worth it. To anyone who is going through a cancer diagnosis, I would say it’s okay to feel scared; it’s natural, but it will get better. Everybody has a different experience, and ultimately, you know what’s best for you. Stay strong and listen to your body.”
Jenny documented her battle with cancer on her social media pages, sharing updates with her thousands of followers. Many joined Jenny’s friends and family in paying tribute to her following her passing.
One said: “Jenny was an inspiration! Followed her journey online and she was just incredible! I am so very sorry for your loss!”
Another added: “To the Murphy family and all extended family, I am so very sorry for your loss. I had heard about Jenny’s long battle with cancer over the years and was always deeply moved by the courage and strength with which she faced it. May she rest in eternal peace.”
A third said: “In the last week, I watched hundreds of videos made by Jenny. I hadn’t seen her before. I was very positively affected by the joy that she brought to her life and her dedication to her home. To all of you who love and will profoundly miss Jenny, my deepest and heartfelt sympathy. What a woman! What a gift to the world! May her gentle soul rest and eternal peace”
May she rest in peace.