Mum-of-two Vicky to ease off campaign for time with family
YESTERDAY TWITTER
CERVICAL cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan has revealed she spent a week in hospital after becoming “very ill”.
The 43-year-old, who was given a terminal diagnosis, said she now plans to take a break from activism to spend time with her two children Darragh and Amelia and husband Jim.
Vicky told how her brief spell in hospital made her realise her health and her family must now be her main priority.
She tweeted: “Apologies to all my followers on Twitter for my absence over the past weeks. I was very ill.
“I spent almost a week in hospital, my first as an inpatient since I got cancer.
“It was scary but I am OK again and a CT scan has revealed my cancer has NOT spread.
“There is no explanation for what made me so ill so they have put it down to a viral infection.
“My time in hospital has taught me some valuable lessons, mainly that I need to pull back from campaigning so heavily and focus on my health and my two young children.
HEALTH
“I will still use my voice to campaign and to contribute to the conversation around women’s health but I will be doing it on my terms.
“I don’t know what lies ahead so I need to prioritise my health and my family above all else. Thank you.”
Following the message yesterday she was inundated with well wishes from the public.
One wrote: “Definitely focus on you and family. Such a huge thank you for everything you do. You’re the amazing voice in a world that needs it. Take it easy.”
While another said: “Good decision Vicky. Take some time to relax your body and spend time with your family.”
Vicky revealed last June that her tumours had shrunk significantly due to the drug Pembrolizumab (Pembro).
She called for it to be introduced to other women with cervical cancer and it was given the go-ahead by Government in December.
The drug, which costs €140,000 per patient per year, is currently only available to those who were caught up in the Cervicalcheck controversy.
Vicky first came to national attention when her High Court case against the HSE saw her awarded €2.5million in a settlement against the US lab that carried out her incorrect test. The scandal involved 221 women.
Last month she criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar over the Government’s response to the needs of patients.
She said at the time: “I think he [Mr Varadkar] is very much all talk and no action. I just don’t get the sense he thinks this is as important as it is.”
I don’t know what lies ahead so I need to prioritise my health VICKY PHELAN