It took years, and a misdiagnosis, to find that Angela had lung cancer

My GP said I was catastrophising - months later I was diagnosed with lung cancer

I’m Angela, 58, mum to three wonderful twenty-somethings (if a little camera shy) and two crazy cute dogs. I’ve been married to my husband for 35 years – though I’m very much a golf widow! I recently retired after 27 years as an accountant, having started my career as a staff nurse.

In 2023, I told my GP that something didn’t feel right. I was constantly tired, had pain in my chest, back, neck and shoulder, and my voice had become croaky. She said I was catastrophising, but I remember saying, “I just hope I’m not sitting here in a few months with a cancer diagnosis.”

Back in 2021 I was admitted to hospital as an emergency with suspected kidney stones, a lung nodule of 8mm had been spotted on a CT scan - I was only told about it in 2024 , at the time I was wrongly told I had ovarian cancer. In the summer of 2024, I was finally diagnosed with stage 1 EGFR-positive lung cancer and primary thyroid cancer.

My family has been my rock, supporting me every step of the way. They even took on the 14-mile Kiltwalk to raise money for Maggie’s Glasgow, where I attended counselling and a food and nutrition course.

Now, I’m enjoying the things I love – spending time with my family, travelling, cooking, gardening with my daughter, and exploring beautiful gardens and parks. My husband and I enjoyed a cooking class in Rome, learning to make pasta and tiramisu. I’ve also begun lung cancer advocacy, attending the BTOG 2025 in Belfast and the Scottish Parliament and participating in a few research projects.

“My dog walking buddies are a great bunch and a walk with the dogs always helps clear my head.” - Angela