Vicky Phelan has shared an upbeat update as she tells fans she may be quiet on social media over the next couple of days as she recovered from her first round of radiation.
The CervicalCheck campaigner began the ten-session course of radiotherapy on Monday in the hope it would alleviate the pain caused by a tumour growth on her spine.
In an Instagram post, Vicky said: "Day one of radiotherapy down
"On my way home now after finishing Round 1 of a 10 session course of radiation to relieve pain in my spine.
"I can't promise to keep you all posted on social media over the coming two weeks on how I'm doing. If I go quiet, you will know that I am probably just about coping with side effects from treatment. If I feel up to it, I will post sporadically to keep you all updated."
Vicky thanked her followers for their continued support and said their messages "mean a lot."
She said: "Thanks again to ALL of you for all the lovely messages of support that you are sending in to me. They really mean a lot".
Responding to messages online, Vicky said she is "hoping for relief from pain and a bit more mobility" as she is "really only moving from bed to chair to car seat at the minute" and again thanked those who have sent her well wishes during her cancer journey.
Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Vicky paid tribute to two "beautiful pieces" written about her.
She said: "Today, as I prepare to head into a new round of radiotherapy treatment to relieve the pain of a tumour that is growing into my spine, I cannot help but be buoyed up by two beautiful pieces that were written about me & appeared in Today's Sunday @Independent_ie and on @RTESunMisc.
"The first piece is an open letter from a lovely lady called Róisín Glynn Steed. THANK YOU Róisín for your letter. It really means a lot to me facing into a new unknown. I am always taken aback by the depth of feeling that ppl express for me BUT I am so very grateful.
"The second piece is a poem that a poet called @DeniseMcGBlake wrote about me inspired by seeing me sitting in front of my laptop in an ordinary hotel lobby in Limerick some time ago. The poem is simply titled For Vicky and it closes out this morning's @RTESunMisc.
"It is a truly beautiful piece and I will cherish it forever, especially over the next three weeks as I face into the unknown of new treatment. THANK YOU Denise for being so inspired by me that you wrote this amazing piece of poetry.
"And to everyone in Ireland and abroad who has sent me messages wishing me well over the coming weeks, THANK YOU ALL.
"Today has shown me just how much love there is out there for me and I take NONE of it for granted."
