As someone who had never smoked, Karen Michael, 50 from Leighton Buzzard never thought about lung cancer, even when she had a persistent cough and was getting short of breath.
Her doctors didn’t seem to consider it initially either. Instead, Karen was given two rounds of antibiotics for suspected pneumonia and then, when that didn’t work, sent for a bronchoscopy as they thought she might have a pea stuck.
“I don’t think lung cancer ever crossed anyone’s mind,” explains Karen, “even though I had two of the most common symptoms.
“I’d had the cough for about two months and then I started getting breathless doing the simplest of tasks, like walking and even light dusting, so I can only assume that my age and the fact that I had never smoked was a distraction.”
Hospitalised
Karen was finally sent for an x-ray which revealed a shadow on her lungs. Whilst she awaited further tests, Karen’s breathing deteriorated, and she ended up in hospital. That’s when she found out it was definitely more serious than a pea stuck.
“I have stage 4 metastatic lung cancer with the EGFR Exon 21 mutation,” continues Karen.
“It’s a type of lung cancer that is more common in people who haven’t smoked. We don’t know why I have it or what caused it, but this is what I’m facing – not long covid, not pneumonia, not any food stuck in my windpipe. Lung cancer.
“That’s why we must let go of labels like smoker and non-smoker. The reality just isn’t that black and white.
“I am the reality. I am a 50-year-old mum who has never smoked, and I have lung cancer.
“Chances are my diagnosis would have been the same had I been immediately sent for a scan. The doctors told me it’s likely that I’d had it for months. It had already spread to my brain. However, with lung cancer, every moment counts, and every delay gives the disease further control.”
A plethora of treatment
Karen is currently on her third line of treatment. She has also had gamma knife radiosurgery to zap over 20 brain metastases. Despite all this, her pragmatic optimism shines through.
“Every setback or progression is devastating,” concludes Karen. “It feels like you are getting diagnosed all over again. But you have to work hard to stop yourself going down those rabbit holes and try and focus on the positives of each situation.
“You never forget you have incurable lung cancer, but there are times when you do everything you can to not think about it and just try to live your normal life, or even a better-than-normal life.
“Since my diagnosis, I live in the moment. I no longer save that expensive shower gel for best. I take my girls on holiday to Disney and Lapland without debate. I take so much pleasure in the smallest moments and I will take so much pride in helping to reshape how people think about lung cancer.”
Karen shares her experience as part of our Let Go of the Labels campaign for lung cancer awareness month.