Living Life with Va-Va-Voom: Mel's Cycling Advocacy Journey

Mel's fatigue was initially attributed to long COVID before her cancer diagnosis

I'm Mel, and I'm 57 and live my life with va-va-voom! I now have stage 4 EGFR+ lung cancer, am a patient advocate for three lung cancer charities and am cycling this September in Sir Chris Hoy's Tour de 4 cycle fundraiser.

When I received my diagnosis in 2020, it was Stage II EGFR+ lung cancer. I had been experiencing fatigue and what seemed like long COVID symptoms. The tiredness was overwhelming, but it took time to discover the real cause behind my exhaustion.

The three essentials for me are good nutrition, exercise and keeping emotionally and mentally well. I have a therapist and she really helps me remain positive and live in the moment. But above all of this... love. Love is the drug as Roxy Music once sang! My advocacy work with lung cancer charities gives me purpose, and taking on cycling challenges like the Tour de 4 keeps me physically and mentally strong.

"I believe that hope is our rocket fuel and there are so many reasons to be hopeful. Research is moving on in leaps and bounds. I plan on living for decades!"