People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Richard Boyd Barrett has announced that he has cancer and will be stepping back from political life for several months as he undergoes treatment.
Mr Boyd Barrett told RTÉ’s Claire Byrne on Monday morning that he has been diagnosed with throat cancer and expected to begin a course of treatment next week.
He said that he would undergo a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, adding that the form of cancer is “curable ... I’ve a good chance”.
He had been told that eight or nine of every 10 patients with this type of cancer recover, he said.
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However, he added that he expected the treatment to be “fairly rough”.
“Eating and drinking can get pretty rough,” he said.
Mr Boyd Barrett said that he had noticed a lump on his neck in October during the general election campaign and had it investigated before Christmas.
He said he had been operated on to have his tonsils removed and a biopsy was performed on tissue, which revealed the cancer diagnosis.
The Dún Laoghaire TD repeatedly praised the health services for his experience so far.
He said he had been told that the cancer has spread to his lymph nodes, but no further.
Mr Boyd Barrett said that he expected to step back from his work as a TD for several months.
“The doctors were adamant that I was not to work,” he said, adding that former People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Bríd Smith would be helping in his office during his absence.
“All in all, we could be talking three or four months,” he said.
“I wanted to explain it because if I just disappeared, people, the constituents who elected me, would be wondering where I’m gone, so I wanted to do them the service of telling them.
“The people who voted for People Before Profit deserve to know if I’m not around. And I just want to stress, I plan to be back as soon as possible.”
Admitting that the diagnosis was “a huge shock”, he said he was optimistic about the chances of successful treatment.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried because there’s no guarantees. But I’m heartened by the confidence of the doctors,” he said.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin was among those wishing Mr Boyd-Barrett well: “He is a very passionate contributor to Dáil Éireann – I’ve always enjoyed our jousts ... So the very best to Richard on his recovery.”
Mr Boyd Barrett has been a TD for Dún Laoghaire since 2011, and is the parliamentary leader of the People Before Profit-Solidarity group.
One of the Dáil’s most outspoken TDs, he is a familiar critic of the Government on the airwaves on a range of issues. He has also been particularly vocal on the attacks on Gaza by Israeli forces.
