Cervical cancer campaigner dies
Evija Rudzone of Drumgola Woods, Cavan Town, died Tuesday, September 2.
Cervical cancer campaigner Evija Rudzone, a Lativian native living in Cavan, has died age 49.
Ms Rudzone (née Karpinska) of Drumgola Woods, Cavan Town, sadly passed away on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, peacefully, and surrounded by her loving family in the wonderful care of the doctors, nurses and staff at the Lisdarn Unit.
Last year the mum of three received a formal apology and “significant financial settlement” in the High Court after she sued the HSE and Quest laboratories after failures in picking up abnormalities in screenings carried out between 2019 and 2021.
In settling the medical negligence action, the HSE admitted breaching its duty of care, with Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda recognising the subsequent “significant impact” the delayed cancer diagnosis has had, as well as the “enormous distress” this causes to both Evija and her family.
She was represented by Dr John O’Mahony SC, instructed by Doireann O’Mahony BL and Richard Crowley of Belturbet’s McGuigan Solicitors.
No admissions were made by US laboratory Quest Diagnostics Incorporated.
At the time of the settlement the prognosis was such that Ms Rudzone was told she between just two and twelve months left to live.
In April of this year, eight months after the settlement was reached, Ms Rudzone told The Anglo-Celt that: “I’m still here. Like magic.”
Evija, who previously worked as a chef at The Meadow View until her illness took hold. Like campaigner Vicky Phelan, among the first to expose and speak up about the cervical cancer screening scandal, she hoped that her personal story could inspire others on their own cancer journey to keep fighting.
Ms Rudzone will be sadly missed by her daughter’s Nikola and Mia, son Markuss, mother, sisters, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours, and many friends.