Vicky Phelan to explore treatments for new tumour diagnosis

Vicky Phelan has been an inspiring and utterly heroic voice through every stage of Ireland’s CervicalCheck scandal, fighting her own cervical cancer, all the while putting the women of this country and their needs at the top of her list as she (and those who support her) battled for the Irish women were also grossly wronged in the scandal. On Monday night, she revealed that she is seeking further treatment options as her cancer has begun to grow back 

She has revealed she is dealing with a new tumour for the first time in over two years and says she will look for other treatments to help prolong her life.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime, Vicky said a new tumour was discovered on her lung over two weeks ago.

“I have a lot of tumours. My cancer was never gone; it has just been stable. What has happened in the last few weeks is that I have a new tumour. It is the first time I have had a new tumour in two-and-a-half years. I’ve a new tumour in my lung, it is quite small, but it does mean I have to start looking at other options and unfortunately with this cancer; there aren’t many.

“For the past two years, I have just been trying to find treatments that will keep me alive for as long as possible as there is no cure. All I am doing is that I am buying time – that’s why I feel so strongly on this issue,” she said while speaking about the beginning of the Cervical Check tribunal.

“Women do not survive if it comes back. That’s all we’re asking for, is to allow those women who are taking cases who are currently cancer free, who are in remission to be allowed to go back [to the tribunal] if their cancer comes back,” she added.

Listen to our concerns and address the needs of the women & families with grace and compassion.

Honour those who have already passed away including Ruth, Emma, Orla, Julie and stop the cycle of protecting the State or you will fail these women a second time.

— Vicky Phelan (@PhelanVicky) November 2, 2020

“We know from cervical cancer that if it does come back; it is fatal, it is as simple as that,” she said.

“We have seen it with Ruth Morrissey, we’ve seen it with Emma Mhic Mhathúna. I’m going to see it; my cancer is back and I’m literally just buying time, that’s all I’m doing at this stage. I am going to die, I know that.”

On social media, she explained that her current treatment had given her a quality of life she never would have had otherwise.

“I knew this day would come, and that Pembro would stop keeping all of my tumours at bay. BUT I am so very glad that I fought for Pembro. It has given me almost 3 years of a quality of life I could never have hoped for on chemotherapy. Thank you Pembro.

“I am actively researching options at the moment, and, apart from bouts of extreme tiredness at times, I am very lucky to report no other symptoms at the moment.”