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CERVICALCHECK CAMPAIGNER VICKEY Phelan is to return to Ireland next week following six months in the United States where she was undergoing a trial cancer treatment.
Last November, Ms Phelan disclosed that she has developed a new tumour for the first time in over two years. A scan revealed a new 3mm tumour in her lung, in addition to growth in three separate tumours.
Ms Phelan was given a terminal cancer diagnosis after a previous smear test did not identify the disease
In January, she told The Late Late Show that she was travelling to Maryland for up to six months, hoping that a pioneering immunotherapy treatment will give her more time with her family.
Speaking today on the Sunday with Miriam programme, she said travel restrictions for people entering the US has meant that she hasn’t seen any of her family including her two children Darragh and Amelia in six months.
“I really didn’t think when I came out here in January that it would be six months before I’d see my children. I honestly thought that they’d be able to come out,” she said.
I think now looking back if I had known back in January that none of my family would have been able to travel out at all, I don’t know would I have come out really to be quite honest.
Ms Phelan added that she will have to return to the US again for more treatment and that she is worried that travel restrictions still won’t be lifted.
“It’s going to be hard to come back because know I’m coming back here on my own again for God knows how long, so it’s tough but it just makes it much more emotional really knowing that I am going to see them,” she said.
Phelan also told the programme that she had a very difficult period two weeks ago when side-effects from the treatment were “relentless” but that she has now “come out the other side of it”
I ended up in hospital for three nights not knowing what was wrong with me. They were we’re doing all these head and CT scans, talking about lumbar punctures and I really thought ‘God has this gone to my brain’, because that’s what it looked like. But luckily enough it was my sinuses thank God, it was something very normal, my face is really after getting a battering with this drug.
Phelan added that she doesn’t have “an alternative option” but to try the treatment.
“I remember laying in that bed in hospital on my own kind of feeling very sorry for myself because I was on my own and there was nobody allowed to visit me. I really was kind of thinking ‘I don’t know if I can keep doing this’. But at the same time I knew well that if I don’t keep doing this there’s really not much else I can do.”
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The woman is a force of nature! Everyone is rooting for you.
Well done Vicky bravest toughest person in Ireland a shining light and an inspiration to all others who have being through tough times in their life, onwards and upwards your an icon weather you know or not
I’m dumbfounded by this lady’s strength of character. I so wish she can pull through.
Incredible strength . Wishing her so much good
Wish her nothing but the very best; a phenomenal person and inspiration.
A wonderful woman & hopefully her treatment will give her many more happy years xx
A beautiful human being.
Vicky you’re an inspiration to all women and we’re all rooting for you, Ireland is so proud of you and looking forward to your return home, safe journey, stay well.xx
Such courage and fighting spirit. Vicky is an incredible lady. We all can learn so much from here about strength and determination in the face of adversity and to never give up
Has Holohan apologised publicly yet?
@Richard Right: Holohan had nothing to do with Cervical Check. He asked to do the review, health minister said no, end of story.
@Tommy Roche: Okay Tony.
@Tommy Roche: ‘ “I strongly advise that you do not commit to a review of CervicalCheck arising from the recent court case.’ Tony Holohan 11 March 2019
@Tommy Roche: Wrong way around Tommy. Harris instigated the report despite Holohan’s attempts to sweep things under the carpet.
@Tommy Roche: think you might be wrong there Tommy.
She is such an inspiring force. Well done, the strength and courage is incredible. Her family and friends are very lucky to have her in their lives
Well done Vickie you are an inspiration to us all . What a wonderful woman you are .
My god your so strong. Having no family and going through that treatment alone would be hell on earth. As a sinus sufferer myself I understand how it affects someone. It’s dreadful in itself but on top of everything your going through it’s so unfair. I wish you luck and a positive outcome. Bravo
Vicky deserves every cent this state can give her, should never have happened
How is that not considered travel for exceptional circumstances? I know people that have been on plenty of holidays
Still with us, I’m still here with brain tumour you’re so brave to have gone to US
There is a special place in H ell for anyone involved that tried to bury the information for these are going through women’s cervical check scandal, they should hang their heads in shame, this woman and others like her are hero’s
May God be with Her
Wishing well to a brave woman, but she is only one of many battling this cancer here, these others are not surrounded by the same publicity and media veneration. Calm down and spare a thought for all.
@Raymond Barry: take a day off there ray. The Journal’s resident ‘you can’t report on anything without reporting on everything’ correspondent. People are aware she is not the only person in the country fighting this disease. It is possible to still sympathise with her plight while doing so for the plight of others who are perhaps not as well known. You have no idea of anyone in this comment threads circumstances so telling people to ‘calm down’ and ‘spare a thought for all’ as if they are being callous to all other victims of this disease by wishing Vicky Phelan well because she is in the public eye is insulting and disingenuous.
Fantastic woman, unbelievable strength.
God bless you girl it’s diffo true lord only gives its toughest battles to its strongest soliders you are just living warrior, may you continue to have long life xxx
Her sufferings, and the sufferings of many other Irish women, are a consequence of FG’s policy of dishonesty. I hope women in DBS remember FG policy when they put pen to paper next Thursday.
So happy to read this and listen to you on the radio on Sunday morning.The joy of seeing and hugging your children Will be the best boost for your wellbeing. We are all behind you in your fight that you never started.
I cannot add to those comments. Hero worship well deserved!! Long Healthy life to you and yours Vicky. There never seems to be any urgency in to rectifieing problems or to updating legislation after finding problems or to holding legal employees of the state accountable for leaving the state exposed to compensation claims, giving get out clauses to individuals and insurance co’s. HSE regularly pay out millions in compensation to make the problem go away instead of keeping that money to invest in improving the instruments we already have to improve everyone’s health. Paying massive compensation to one unfortunate individual and their families is immoral because it discriminates against those with the same illness who don’t get compensation. The cake is only so big. Everyone needs to get equal compassion
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