Cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan has died.
Vicky died in the early hours of this morning, Monday, November 14th, at Milford Hospice in Limerick.
She is survived by her two children, Amelia (16) and Darragh (10).
Ms Phelan was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014.
Our good friend Vicky Phelan has died in the early hours of this morning at Milford Hospice in Limerick.
Our deepest sympathies to Vicky's family and friends, may she rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/X5LcvbbiVI
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) November 14, 2022
She announced last October that she had returned home to Ireland from the US after the treatment she received there no longer worked.
The medical team at Georgetown University Hospital in Maryland recommended that Vicky return home to receive palliative chemotherapy.
The Kilkenny native, born on October 28th, 1974, Ms Phelan never set out to be a national campaigner.
Ms Phelan was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014 three years after receiving an incorrect smear test result that failed to detect any abnormalities.
From there she underwent aggressive treatment — radiation, chemotherapy and brachytherapy — and was eventually given the all-clear.
Today we have lost our biggest big sister. We are shattered. She told us this day would come but she fought so hard & so well that we couldn’t let ourselves think it would happen
All our love to Vicky's family
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanamFull statement:https://t.co/6sY5hCa8U4
— 221+ (@221plus) November 14, 2022
In September 2017, during a routine checkup, her gynaecologist told her that an audit carried out by CervicalCheck found her 2011 smear test had been reported as a false negative.
Weeks later, a CT scan revealed her cancer had returned, and this time was delivered a terminal diagnosis.
Left alone with her patient file, she flipped it open and quickly realised something was wrong relating to her smear history and CervicalCheck and contacted a lawyer.
The HSE confirmed that just over 206 women here went on to develop cervical cancer after receiving an incorrect smear test result from CervicalCheck.
