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VICKY PHELAN HAS said she plans to pull back from campaigning about the CervicalCheck scandal to focus on her health and family.
In a series of tweets earlier today, Phelan announced that she has been “very ill” over the past couple of weeks and that she spent almost a week in hospital.
“It was scary but I am ok again and a CT scan has revealed that my cancer has not spread,” Phelan wrote.
She said 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,” she said.
Phelan (44) was instrumental in exposing the CervicalCheck controversy, after launching a High Court case against a US laboratory over incorrect smear test results from 2011.
She has since campaigned continuously for hundreds of more women impacted by the health scandal.
In late 2018, Phelan and fellow survivor Lorraine Walsh and Stephen Teap whose wife Irene died from the disease established the 221+ support group in order to help the women and their families affected by CervicalCheck scandal.
“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,” Phelan wrote today.
“I don’t know what lies ahead, so I need to prioritise my health and my family above all else,” she said.
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You started a valuable campaign which will continue. Now look after yourself and your your family, it’s time to relax. Thank you for a job well done.
In giving her time she has given the most valuable thing that she has and all to help and protect the health of so many women in this country, I certainly won’t forget the bravery she has shown and continues to show, stay strong,,, the world is a better place with people like her.
@Devilsavocado: And would be a better place without the likes of Harris
@Jason Higgins: wrong thread mate….
Get well wishes Vicki
Slow down and look after yourself vicky,wish you all the best.
Vicky please take care of yourself.
This country needs people like Vicky. She personifies so many things.
I hope she takes all the time she needs, as her cancer hasn’t spread any further its a good time to reconsider everything and try and get back to something approaching “normal “life.
But her campaign will never far from her heart, and as someone who has been through the aftermath of a serious cancer diagnosis, this survival part of this disease is harder than the treatment from a mental and emotional perspective.
I use this to try and explain what it feels like….a few years ago John Lewis had a Christmas ad which showed a little girl looking at the moon through a telescope, she sees an old man sitting on bench alive but alone in his thoughts.
Unfortunately surviving cancer felt like that for me, not everyone would agree but like the disease surviving is also unique to the person.
And still today its charities only that provide almost all post treatment care, and God knows they aren’t flush with money.
Vicky will be involved in the continuing to improve our cancer services, as many of us are even if its just talking to fellow survivors or patients.
This disease can hang on for a long time thus the insidious nature of it.
Best of luck Vicky, learn to be a small bit greedy.
@the druid: Thank you.
Thank you so much Vikki you probably saved thousands of lives. You didn’t need to stand up but you did, you are a hero.
Best of luck in the world xxxx
Vicki you will never know the number of hearts you have touched. You are a national treasure and as such we don’t want to loose you. Please take care of you and your family.
Look after
@Ciaran105: look after yourself Vicky and continued good health to you .
Powerful woman
Oh and I did write a few blogs but cant find them now. Think the site is no longer up was called “Nuime.com”
I say the government had a wee word with her now
@Darren Farrell: It would be the only word, as they have no services for survivor’s at all.
I have had a go at a few TDs but simply gave up they have no interest despite the mental scars left behind.
So, I run charity events to raise a few bob and research the progress
@Paul O Mahoney: what’s the link for all ur work
@Darren Farrell: No link…..but involved with Movember, ICS, Marie Keating, Arc, Relay of Life……
I simply run quizzes, race nights, Movember shave offs, peer to peer stuff, and Im trying to write a memoir where all proceeds go to cancer research.
Its local stuff but great craic
have your say