Lung cancer is still reeling from the impact of Covid. At the peak of the pandemic, lung cancer referral rates are down 75% and still remain significantly behind expected levels. This ultimately means that thousands of people will miss out on an early, and potentially life-saving, diagnosis. And we know just how important early diagnosis is

Meet Bill,

When Bill first spotted a cough and a wheeze, he was frightened. He knew his years of smoking werent good for him and there was a chance these symptoms were a sign he had lung cancer. Despite these nerves, he went to see his doctor. His worst fears came true; Bill did in fact have lung cancer and it was inoperable. However, after having chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he remains cancer free over 20 years later.

I started feeling something on my chest, something in the right side of my chest causing me to cough and wheeze, especially at night in bed. If I lay on my side, I could feel this thing, like a moth, going around inside my lung and no matter how much I coughed, I couldnt get rid of it.

When I was diagnosed, I was told that due to its location, my tumour was inoperable. Instead, I could have chemo and radiotherapy to try and shrink it. I had six full sessions of chemotherapy and then 20 sessions of radiotherapy.

The chemotherapy wasnt as hard on me as I expected. Why? I dont know but I was quite pleased about it. Sometimes I got sick, but nothing much and nothing like other people have had. The radiotherapy was much of the same. I felt a little sore at times. I had difficulty swallowing but, again, nothing too bad.

By the end of the radiotherapy, things were looking a bit better and I stared thinking things could work out ok. It was in January or February 2001, I had an appointment with the specialist and she told my tumour had gone. I no longer had cancer. That was unreal, to know that this thing, this large tumour had been shrunk and there was nothing left!

A few months later after I finished the treatment and this guy took me in, checked my notes, and said You no longer have cancer. I dont want to see you again. Thatll do me!

All monies raised from our Rock Retro run will help us to support patients like Bill throughout their diagnosis, treatment and beyond.