Cervical cancer campaigner Ruth Morrissey says she is determined to find a cure for her terminal illness.
The 37-year-old and her husband Paul were awarded €2.1m in damages on Friday over the misreading of smear tests and the failure to tell her about it.
And brave Ruth says she remains hopeful for the future despite her terminal diagnosis.
Ms Morrissey said: “Right now obviously the two years is what’s been given but I don’t accept that because I am a very positive person.
“I strive to try find something out there that will help me.”
However, she said the cancer is inoperable, adding “it’s making very difficult side effects right now for me in terms of my mobility to walk”.
She said she doesn’t know if the Pembro, dubbed the “wonder drug” by fellow campaigner Vicky Phelan, will work for her.
Terminally ill Ruth Morrissey awarded €2.1m damages in smear test case
Ms Morrissey said: “We haven’t gone down that route yet because I went for the alternative options that were available because I have the breast [cancer] as well”.
“Once the breast [cancer] is dealt with maybe in the future down the line Pembro could be an option for me, but right now I don’t know if it is, we have to wait and see as time proceeds”.
The mother-of-one told RTE’s Sunday with Miriam that being awarded €2.1million in damages, while exciting, was “more of a relief”.
“It was just a relief that finally the labs were found to be responsible and accountable for negligence on the slides”.
She and husband Paul had sued the HSE and Quest Diagnostics and MedLab Pathology Limited after two of her smear tests were misread.
The Limerick woman was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014 after noticing “pink panther”-like blood after sex.
When she went to her GP the cancer had advanced so far that the doctor could see that there was something on her cervix from a basic exam.
Last May she found out that she was one of hundreds women who were not informed that earlier smear tests had been misread.
After learning the news she and husband Paul felt “left in limbo” and “didn’t know where to turn to”.
She said that her misread smear in 2009 would have made “a significant difference” to her health.
Ms Morrissey also discovered her 2012 smear had also been misread.
“That was shocking because I would have expected one smear But to sit down and see two smears you’re kind of shaking your head going that’s just unbelievable”.
She said that she was initially “angry” she had to go through the courts despite the Taoiseach’s assurances.
Ms Morrissey said: “I was angry but realistically, when you go through your emotional rollercoaster and you think back, he made a promise that he couldn’t keep”.
She said when she thought back on it she thought that the labs and the HSE “have a right to defend themselves in a court case” as she did.
Ms Morrissey said people need to be able to have confidence in all Irish health screenings.
She said: “It’s not like looking at a sheet or a slide that has no impact, it’s somebody’s life that you’re looking at.”
“If there is any doubt, then it should not be passed”.
