I thought I just had a cough that wouldn’t go away. Then a doctor announced the news

It was the last day of school at the university where I worked, a beautiful sunny day, and my colleagues were having a barbecue.

I felt sorry that I had to miss something.

The day before, a nurse had called me and invited me to a hospital appointment, where I was examined for a persistent cough.

While I didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable, I just couldn’t shake it. It was loud and quite noisy, which made me a little embarrassed in public.

The nurse had suggested I take someone with me, and although I didn’t think it would be anything serious, I took my husband Ben with me.

A kind doctor told me the news: I had lung cancer.

I never thought this would happen to me. I have never been tempted to smoke a single cigarette; in fact, I have always been strongly anti-smoking. I was that annoying teenager who preached to my own father, who smoked and tried to quit all his life.

I cried when I heard the news, but I also thought very practically about what it meant and wanted to know details about the plan.

A good friend of mine, who is a doctor, had advised me not to eat much before my appointment. This turned out to be good advice because when I left the hospital and got to the car, I felt miserable.

In an instant everything had changed.

In June 2023, I was a busy mother of four working as a Further Education Manager and couldn’t wait for the summer holidays to spend time with my girls.

After a cold spring the weather was finally warming up and I was looking forward to some long walks through the Cumbrian countryside where we lived and an upcoming two week holiday in Germany, traveling around by train.

When I started coughing, I thought it was probably a virus or maybe an infection. It wasn’t until a colleague (known to be quite open) told me I needed to get it checked out that I realized how long this had been going on.

It certainly lasted more than a few weeks, possibly even a few months.

This, I later learned, was a telltale sign. I now know that a cough that lasts three weeks or more can be a sign of lung cancer.

That same evening I went for a run with a good friend who had recently recovered from breast cancer. She spoke openly about the importance of being body conscious and seeking immediate medical attention if something doesn’t feel right in your body.

Both comments stuck with me and I called my doctor the next morning. Even though I had no other symptoms besides the cough, I knew something was wrong.

The next day I was referred for a chest x-ray, which quickly showed a shadow in my lungs.

More tests and scans followed and a few weeks later I received the news that no one ever wants to hear.

My first reaction was to investigate the facts. People say you shouldn’t search online, but why not use the world’s largest source of information to help me understand?

I was sensible and stuck to trusted NHS websites and cancer charities such as the Roy Castle Lung Foundation.

I even watched a YouTube video of the surgery I would perform: a right middle lobectomy via video-assisted thoracic surgery to remove the right middle lobe of the lung.

I quickly learned that forums and social media groups are full of bad news that upsets me, so I learned to stay away from both.

From the beginning, I was open to my husband, daughters, friends and colleagues. My daughters found it difficult, especially my oldest, Libby, because she didn’t go to college, and my seventeen-year-old Kitty, who had to help me after the surgery and be more active with her younger sisters.

However, the care and love I felt from everyone around me was amazing. I’m so happy. It is something very positive that I will take away from this experience.

Fortunately, my lung cancer was discovered early. It was stage 2, which meant I had a high chance of successful treatment.

I had surgery on Thursday August 3, 2023. It was a success and I spent the months recovering and building my strength, endurance and lung capacity.

At first I found it difficult to walk because I was out of breath, but I was able to do my breathing exercises very well and soon noticed improvements.

Now, four months post-surgery, I can do almost anything I want: I’m running in the mountains again, I’m training to climb the Wainwright Mountains, and I’ve just started a couch-to-5k running regime again. !

I have an ongoing care plan and will have regular checkups for years to come, but I’m happy to be back working full-time in the job I love.

My family and I had to swap our holiday plans abroad for a dreary summer in Cumbria, but we are still in good spirits. I am optimistic about the future and look forward to teaching again and seeing my colleagues again.

Although this was a life-changing diagnosis, the early detection of cancer and a good recovery means I can continue to enjoy family life with my four beautiful daughters and brilliant husband.

I am very grateful to my friends for encouraging me to get checked and I am a huge supporter of NHS England’s ‘Help Us, Help’ lung cancer campaign to spread this important message.

I know there is a common misconception that only smokers can get lung cancer or that it mainly affects men, but in fact 28% of lung cancer cases are not caused by smoking and women can get lung cancer too. In Britain, the incidence of lung cancer in women has continued to rise since 1995.

I may not fit the ‘typical’ profile of someone with lung cancer, but by sharing my story I hope it shows that it can happen to anyone, even a non-smoking, active woman like me.

A cough that lasts three weeks or more may be a sign of cancer. If you notice that your complaints persist for the time being, please contact your doctor.

It’s probably nothing serious, but if the chance is small, the cancer is easier to treat if caught early.

This one appointment can save your life.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.