(CNN) Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, making her first public appearance since it was announced that she had undergone recent treatment for pancreatic cancer, appeared strong Monday when she accepted an honorary degree from the University at Buffalo.

The 86-year-old liberal icon stood as she made remarks and briefly referenced her health, which has again been the focus of public speculation given her status as the court's senior-most liberal and the potential for President Donald Trump to dramatically shift the court to the right were she to retire.

"In July 2018, Wayne (Wisbaum) wrote to me that his health disabled him from playing a lead role in the arrangements for my visit here but he still hoped to attend all the events. He asked me to confirm that I would come to Buffalo in August 2019 in any event. I did so immediately and I did not withdraw when my own health problems presented challenges," Ginsburg said, referring to a Buffalo attorney she knew in college at Cornell who invited her to Monday's event but who passed away.

She also told students in attendance that it was "beyond my wildest imagination that I would one day become the Notorious RBG.

"I am now 86 years old, yet people of all ages want to take their picture with me. Amazing," Ginsburg said to laughter and applause. She later sat down for a question-and-answer session.

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