Vicky Phelan calls for a drug that, in her opinion, has saved her life be available to all people with cervical cancer

Vicky Phelan takes it to the state for not having made a drug that she believes has saved her life, is available for free for all people with cervical cancer.

The mother of two spoke about the benefits of pembrolizumab, which she says has reduced her tumor by 50%.

"I am proof that this medicine works," she said.

"I go to St. Vincent and I go out in three hours, but with chemotherapy, we come in and we feel worse than when we entered.

"I have no side effects, but some pain in my arms and hands, but it's a peanut compared to what you have to bear with chemotherapy."

Ms. Phelan said that most days she did not even think about getting cancer.

"I'm realistic and I know there is no cure for that. There may be a time when this drug stops working, but for the moment it's buying me time and that's what I want.

"I was given one to two years [to live] and I just spent my mark of three years, which is fantastic. "

Thanks to his campaign, the 221 other women affected by CervicalCheck's "debacle" now have access to the miracle drug.

However, the government continues to deny it to other people with the disease. A treatment with Pembro costs 8,500 euros every three weeks for those who pay the bill in private.

The Galway County musician, Áine Morgan, who was diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer two years ago, is one of the women not allowed to participate in the clinical trial because she is not considered an appropriate candidate.

But the Loughrea singer told Claire Byrne that the drug could offer her a life buoy.

"I have to pay for it privately, but if you face death, you will try any option," she said.

"It's ridiculous that it's given to some people and not to others – it should be equal."

Ms. Morgan added that her son and Vicki Kavanagh had motivated her to continue fighting for the drug despite her illness.

In a statement, the HSE said that the use of Pembrolizumab in the treatment of cervical cancer had been approved by the FDA in the United States, but had not yet licensed in Europe.

"We hope that pembrolizumab will be submitted to the European Medicines Agency for licensing the treatment of the cervix in the future," he said. .

"On this basis, the use of the drug for the treatment of cervical cancer can not yet be considered for a national reimbursement by the HSE and is not approved by the HSE for reimbursement."

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