When Bill Culbard started coughing, he feared the worst. Having smoked for many years, he knew there was a higher chance he could have lung cancer.
The cough continued and Bill also started wheezing. It was particularly bad at night. Bill knew he should go to the doctor, but something was holding him back.
“I didn’t want to go to the doctor,” recalls Bill.
“I knew that all this smoking I had done previously wasn’t good for me, so lung cancer was definitely in my mind and thinking it had been caused by my smoking was quite a burden to bear.”
Thankfully, Bill’s reluctance to seek help subsided and he went to see his doctor.
Bill was diagnosed with lung cancer. Due to its location, Bill’s tumour was inoperable, so he had chemotherapy and radiotherapy. His follow up scans showed the tumour had gone and, 24 years on, Bill remains cancer-free.
Paula Chadwick, chief executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said: “Bill’s story is a vitally important experience to share. It not only proves that when lung cancer is caught early, it can be cured, it also highlights the emotional torment that people can go through.
No one should ever feel like they can’t seek help if they have lung cancer symptoms. But labels like ‘smoker’ are compounding the issue.
“We need to let go of these labels and give people the best chance of a long life after lung cancer.”
“Smoking was a bad choice,” concludes Bill, “but it doesn’t make us bad people. We all deserve the best shot of getting through lung cancer. You deserve a chance to live.
“It took me a while to realise that but thankfully my hesitation didn’t affect my outcome. Don’t let it affect yours.”
Bill shares his experience as part of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation’s Let Go of the Labels campaign for lung cancer awareness month.