"I'm Still Standing": Lizzie's Song of Resilience

Lizzie went to her GP feeling slightly breathless and discovered Stage IV lung cancer

I'm a young at heart 45 year old; mum of chocolate labrador pup, crazy aunty, fun sister, loyal daughter. I love walking said hound, singing, kayaking, travelling and watching a good movie on a wet Sunday afternoon. When not doing that I work full time in marketing.

When I received my diagnosis 8 months ago in 2024, it was Stage IV ALK+ lung cancer. I had been experiencing shortness of breath and slight upper back pain. I went to my GP complaining I felt slightly breathless. He listened to my chest and couldn't hear anything, did some blood tests which didn't show anything. I went back a few weeks later with another doctor who referred me for a chest x-ray and we went from there.

Like anyone it punched me and my family in the stomach hard and without warning. I am so desperately trying not to let cancer define me. At the moment it's pretty consuming, it's a bit hard to plan things and you never not think about it, but I am living life to the full and getting out and doing some of the things I had put off.

I got a dog - I'm not kidding! I live on my own and although have very dear family and friends, we're not always geographically close, so I knew I needed the company and distraction of a little four legged friend that I had always wanted. I am keeping fit walking him three times a day, I also spend 10 minutes now in the morning stretching, breathing and being grateful for everything I have in my life. I am also pretty open about my diagnosis with most people - I hate the fact I have it but I am not ashamed and the more people realise that lung cancer is not a smokers cancer and actually the no.2 cancer in women the better!

"It's amazing the more people I talk to, the more incredulous they are that I, a young, fit, non-smoker, has lung cancer. It's true, anyone with lungs can get it."