A misdiagnosis during lockdown resulted in Stage 4 lung cancer
Christine, an ex-yoga teacher, reflects on her lung cancer diagnosis during lockdown and the need for greater GP awareness.
I’m 72, a former yoga teacher, artist, and non-smoker. My lung cancer diagnosis came in October 2020, after months of being misdiagnosed with seasonal asthma.
During the first Covid lockdown, my symptoms—persistent cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath—were treated remotely, and it wasn’t until my niece, a paediatric nurse, visited me in September 2020 that I was properly diagnosed.
For the past four years, I’ve faced the challenges of chemotherapy, drug side effects, and navigating life with Stage 4 EGFR+ lung cancer. But I’ve always looked forward to the next challenge, whether it’s planting flowers and vegetables or pestering my husband to tackle the next job around the house. I recently planted bulbs for next Spring and Summer, whether or not I see them break ground and grow doesn't matter, I want to see a better future, and one with well resourced and much better informed GPs and surgeries who might help others survive well into their futures.
We need our GPs to look beyond stereotypes and recognise that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer. By being curious and taking early symptoms seriously, they can save lives, reduce the burden on families, and save the NHS vast amounts of money from missed early diagnoses.
Help us raise awareness that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer All You Need is Lungs – share Christine’s story!
“Our GPs need to see beyond the stereotypes of what a person with lung cancer looks like, and to realise that our symptoms, odd and sometimes confusing as they might be, could very well be lung cancer.” Christine
In Loving Memory of Christine
A message from Sean, Christine’s husband:
"Shortly after contributing her story to this campaign, Christine passed away. She was very fortunate to be cared for in her last week in her local hospice, which gave family and friends precious time to spend with her, telling her how much we all loved her, and sharing our own stories together with her.”
