Neil’s lung tumour was behind his heart so wasn’t seen on his X-ray

I wish I'd known sooner that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer, it doesn’t discriminate by smoking history, age, or background. I’m proof of that.

I'm Neil and I have spent my entire working life as a Community Pharmacist. I have always enjoyed travelling, being outdoors at every opportunity, especially taking long walks in the Lake District or Northumberland, or doing the garden.

When I received my diagnosis on 3 April 2024, I was 59 -it was stage 4 ALK+ lung cancer. I’d been experiencing a persistent cough and coughing up blood. During October 2023, I developed a cough which I put down to stress from a protracted planning application. By early December, the cough was still there but as a pharmacist I knew that sometimes coughs do take a while to clear. I was given antibiotics and a chest x-ray, which came back all clear, giving me false reassurance as my primary lung tumour was behind my heart so wouldn't be visible on an x-ray.

By March the cough was still there so I returned to the GPs twice. On the second appointment I was put on an urgent referral pathway for CT and MRI scans, by now I had developed a persistent headache. The scans revealed stage 4 lung cancer which had already spread to my brain. After further tests including a liquid biopsy, we got the result we were waiting for - the cancer was ALK+ and I was prescribed targeted treatment.

Since my diagnosis my wife has had to become my chauffeur, a whole new experience as rallying cars had been my hobby. We’ve moved to somewhere more manageable, which has given us more time to do what's most important - spending time together doing the things we love.

I wish I'd known sooner that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer, it does not discriminate by smoking history, age, or background, I am proof of that.

“We’ve moved to somewhere more manageable, which has given us more time to do what's most important - spending time together doing the things we love.” - Neil