Sylvie knew something was wrong, but had to fight to be heard

I’m Sylvie, a 48 year old mother of three who adores travelling and just loves life. My family and friends are the centre of my world. I was working as a leaseholder manager when my symptoms began.

When I got my diagnosis it was November 2023 and I was told it was ALK+ - stage 4. I’d had back pain since August that year, shortness of breath, and unintentional weight loss. I was sent away several times by doctors saying that I had sciatica. I went to A&E more than once, including by ambulance, begging, "please I know there's something wrong with me" but was discharged without scans. Ten days later I woke so tired I couldn't lift my head off the pillow. My sister, who’s a nurse, told me to call 999 immediately.

Initially they thought I had a pulmonary embolism, but following a scan they saw a mass and said ‘suspected lung cancer’. Further tests showed it had spread to my bones, spine, lymph nodes and liver. The doctor went on his knee and said "we found a mass in your chest, we think it's cancer." I said "do people have lung cancer that have never smoked? I’d always assumed lung cancer and smoking go together." I held onto that non-belief for a very long time.

My wish has always been to be a grandmother. I pray that just that one wish comes true - for me to live long enough to see my kids grow, for my daughter to finish University. I push myself every day, climb those stairs even when I'm tired, exercise my muscles so I can walk and do normal things. This is an improved version of me. Being with my family and friends, travelling when I can, and appreciating my time alone brings me strength.

I was dismissed with sciatica multiple times before discovering I had stage 4 lung cancer.

"It's important for doctors to listen to the patients, they know their bodies!” - Sylvie