Vicky Phelan has shared a heartbreaking update on her latest cancer treatment after she says she has "never been so sick" following radiotherapy.
The CervicalCheck campaigner began the ten-session course of radiotherapy on February 14 in the hopes it would relieve pain in her spine.
However, in an update on Monday, Vicky said she has "never been in so much pain" as she was after the treatment after she suffered serious complications.
The mother-of-two added that "nothing could have prepared her" for the treatment and that her condition has become "unpredictable".
In a post on social media, Vicky said: "It has been a while since I have posted...there are valid reasons for it.
"I warned that I might go quiet once I started radiotherapy but nothing could have prepared me for what followed.
"So, today, I am going home after spending the past two weeks in this room at @milfordcarecentre recovering from complications from my radiotherapy treatment.
"I have NEVER been so sick or in as much pain as I have been over the past two weeks!!!
"The radiotherapy increased the amount of pain I was in and also incapacitated me leaving me unable to walk without assistance.
"I am only now, in the past few days able to walk without either a 4-wheeler or a Zimmer frame. Walking long distances is still beyond me but I hope I will get there again.
"I only finished my last session of radiotherapy last Monday and it can take a couple of weeks for the effects to be felt so I am really hoping that I will be moving around a bit more freely in a couple of weeks time but I am also acutely aware that I may never regain what I had..."
The Limerick native then announced that she would not be making the trip to Co Mayo next month for Charlie Bird's Motor Neurone Disease fundraiser.
Vicky has previously pledged to do "everything in her power" to join the veteran RTE broadcaster at the Climb with Charlie event which will see hundreds of people take to Croagh Patrick on April 2.
She said: "And so, I have had to make the hard decision NOT to make the journey to Croagh Patrick in April for the #climbwithcharlie I am simply not well enough either physically or mentally.
"The past few weeks have really knocked the stuffing out of me and I need to focus on just getting well again. I have already been in touch with Charlie and he has been great about it."
Her focus will be on spending quality time with her loved ones as her poor health is impacting her daily life "more and more".
|I am also going to pull back from posting here on social media. I need to focus on spending time with my family and friends," she said.
"I hope that people understand. Unfortunately, my condition has become unpredictable and is impacting more and more on my everyday life.
"Thank you ALL for your continued support and for all your well wishes. I really do appreciate the support."
