Polly’s update: chemotherapy, family milestones and losing friends to EGFR+ lung cancer

Polly first shared her story with us in 2025. She used to run a bed and breakfast, and she was diagnosed with stage 4 EGFR+ lung cancer in 2021 after a cough and breathlessness that wouldn’t go away. She keeps chickens and ducks, knits, gardens and loves holidays in the caravan.

Since then, her cancer has progressed, and in March she started chemotherapy. She’s had to take a break after developing pneumonitis, an inflammation of the lungs, and is due to restart chemo at the end of October.

“Chemo is hard, I’m not going to lie, but I do my best to enjoy good times in week two and three between treatments.”

It’s also been a year of loss. Several members of the EGFR+ South West Group, where Polly has made close friends, have died in the last few months.

“It seems to me that all the people I meet with EGFR+ are so lovely.”

Polly says the group is getting through it together, supporting each other with help from the wider charity.

There have been big happy moments, too. In August, Polly and her husband Harry celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. In September, their son George got married. And their daughter Katherine is expecting their first grandchild in January.

“I didn’t know if I would see these milestones, so they are incredibly special!!”

She’s had to pause her volunteering with Hospicecare while she’s on chemo, but she hopes to go back to it.