Gay Byrne has expressed his relief at being given a break from his chemotherapy treatment for prostate cancer.
The renowned broadcaster was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016 and had to take a break from his TV and radio duties to fight the illness with rounds of chemotherapy.
The 83-year-old veteran TV star has now revealed that his treatment has taken a positive turn.
He wrote in his column for the Sunday's Independent Living magazine: "Mind you, I would have to tell you that the mood was considerably lightened by the fact that my doctor, John McCaffrey, had two days previously told me that I didn’t have to have any more chemotherapy for the present.
"Being told you’re off chemo is rather like being told they’re not going to hang you tomorrow morning after all - a guy has just walked into Store Street and confessed that he dunnit."
Byrne went on to say that although he is now taking a break from his cancer treatment, he will have a "long hard road" to recovery.
"But no matter how awful chemo is, it obviously did its job, and so all the pointers at this stage look good. More than that we cannot, and do not, claim.
"The fight continues and we’ve a long hard road to go yet," he stated.
He added his relief at taking a break from chemo and said he was grateful to all the well wishes from his fans: "But dear God! The relief of escaping chemo!"
"And I never got round to saying thank you to all those people who were part of the flood, the inundation, the tsunami of good wishes, prayers, Masses, novenas and hopes expressed when my illness became known.
"From all corners of the country they came and I was totally overcome. Clearly, I cannot thank you individually, but good wishes expressed are simply prayers in another form, and yes, they do help."
Last October, Byrne's wife Kathleen Walkins said he was going through a "difficult stage" in his treatment.
She said during an appearance on The Ray D'Arcy Show on RTÉ One: "It's up and down because it takes its toll. But anyway, we're getting there. We're doing the best we can."
