From Nurse to Patient: Angela's Advocacy Journey

Angela's GP said she was catastrophizing - months later she was diagnosed with lung cancer

I'm Angela, and I'm 58 years old. I'm a mother to three awesome beautiful twenty somethings and two crazy cute dogs. I've been married to my husband for 35 years this year - though I am a golf widow. I recently retired after 27 years as an accountant, having previously worked as a staff nurse.

When I received my diagnosis in 2024, it was Stage I EGFR+ lung cancer. I had been experiencing hoarseness, ongoing pain in my chest, neck, upper back and shoulder, and fatigue. My GP said I was catastrophizing when I was telling her I didn't feel well, that there was something off. I said I hoped I wasn't sat in her room a few months later with a cancer diagnosis. My lung nodule was on a CT scan in 2021 at 8mm when I was wrongly told I had ovarian cancer.

Retirement has given me time to focus on what I love - cooking, pottering in the garden with my daughter growing tomatoes and peppers. I also enjoy visiting beautiful gardens where I try not to buy more plants. My husband and I did a cooking class in Rome very recently learning to make fettuccine, ravioli and tiramisu. I've also tried learning Italian using an app - quite good fun but slow, though at least I can order coffee and wine and ask for the bill.

My immediate family are my rock and recently completed the 14 mile kilt walk supporting Maggie's Glasgow where I went for support after my dual diagnosis. I also do lung cancer advocacy work and have been lucky enough to attend conferences and speak at the Scottish Parliament.

"My dog walking buddies are a great bunch and a walk with the dogs always helps clear my head."