I was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer (Stage IIIb non-small adenocarcinoma) in June 2014 and have since found out that lung cancer is often overlooked in terms of research funding despite survival rates being amongst the lowest across all cancers. This is often due to late diagnosis. To be more specific lung cancer accounts of almost a quarter of all cancer deaths (more than prostate and breast cancer combined) and yet only receives 7% of cancer research funding in the UK.
I was 43 years old when diagnosed - asymptomatic, a keen (marathon) runner, living a healthy lifestyle with my husband and our 5 dogs - unaware that I was ill. I was told, at that time, the cancer was incurable, terminal and inoperable. I have since had 4 cycles of chemotherapy, 30 sessions of radiotherapy and amazingly then became eligible for surgery due to my response to previous treatments. I had the right upper lobe of my lung removed in July 2015 and managed to run Snowdonia marathon four months later!
In December 2017 I had a complete neck dissection after a malignant node was spotted on a scan. This was followed by 6 weeks of radiotherapy in early 2018.
I would like to help raise people's awareness of this disease and raise funds for research. One in seven people diagnosed has never smoked and increasingly middle aged females are being diagnosed. If you have lungs, you can get lung cancer.
Please help by donating to this very worthwhile cause. I will take up personal challenges throughout the year depending on my health - along with my husband, Steven. I intend to keep as fit and healthy as I can for as long as possible and will continue to run when I can. I believe that my fitness has helped me through treatment and also enabled me to have treatments that otherwise may not have been open to me. Raising funds for lung cancer treatment and research is so important and together we can help.
To donate either click on the 'donate' button on this page or text JHOL70 with the amount you wish (eg. £5, £10) to donate to 70070.
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