Gay Byrne has said "everything seems to be going fine" as he continues to receive treatment for prostate cancer, but added that he is a "lousy patient".
The 82-year-old broadcasting legend was a guest at an event in Dublin's Gaiety Theatre to celebrate late author Maeve Binchy's book Minding Frankie coming to the big stage, and during the afternoon tea he updated the Irish Daily Mail on how he is getting on.
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"I'm feeling alright but I have to take care of myself and rest as must as possible," Byrne said.
"I'm a regular visitor to the Mater Hospital for treatment and everything seems to be going fine."
"They're very happy with me, whether I am or not," he continued. "I'm a lousy patient. I'm on about 18 tablets a day and they're driving me mad."
Byrne paid tribute to the care he has received from his family and said people had been "amazingly kind and gentle" in asking about his health.
"From all over the nation, I couldn't count them; it would be impossible," he added.
"I've had the most wonderful, fantastic, robust, good health all my broadcasting life," he told listeners. "It's my turn now... Many, many people [are] much worse off. Thank you for your good wishes."
As for the prospect of returning to the airwaves, Byrne told the Irish Daily Mail he has no plans at present and is "too lacking in energy to miss it".
He said he was attending the afternoon tea to honour Maeve Binchy "because she's a favourite".
"She was the kind of person that if she got on a bus, three stops later she'd have half the passengers' life stories."
Minding Frankie runs at the Everyman in Cork from May 30 to June 3 and the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin from June 6 to 17.
