After losing his wife Jude, Simon Feltham has been raising money in her memory. Their total has already surpassed £5000, an incredible sum that Simon hopes can help us campaign for further screening and treatment.
“Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation was very close to Jude’s heart, and I feel the same. That’s why we wanted to raise money to support this important cause – both whilst Jude was alive and then in her memory.
“Jude had a rare form of lung cancer. It was a type of genetic mutation, but different from the types that treatments currently target.
“It was also caught late. By the time there were any warning signs, the cancer was already stage 4. That’s the scary thing about lung cancer; it can stay hidden for so long.
“That’s why screening is so important and why it’s vital Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation carries on campaigning, so more people have access to this life-saving intervention, including those who have never smoked, as well as pushing for new treatments for all forms of lung cancer.
“We’ve raised over £5000 for the charity. Jude set up a Just Giving page for her 60th birthday and asked family and friends to donate. Then after Jude passed, her brother Jeff and I organised a sponsored walk from Byng House (the hospice where Jude died) to Formby where we lived. Jude’s choir – G Force Choir – also recorded a song in her memory.
The worst news, discovered in the worst way
“Jude was a kind, compassionate and selfless lady. Whether it was friends who needed to talk, or her sons who needed some support, Jude was always there. As her husband, I benefitted most. She was a joy to be with but of course, I am biased!
“We met online and after three years, I sold my house in Warrington and moved in with Jude in Formby. We both loved our motorhome and went on countless trips across the UK, often with our cockerpoo, Elsie, in tow.
“Then in 2022, our life was turned upside down.
“Jude had a persistent cough for a month and, whilst I was away golfing, she had an x-ray which showed shadows on her lungs. By the time I arrived home, Jude had been called for a CT scan.
“We awaited the results with trepidation. We expected to receive a letter or an appointment to see someone and talk through the results. But one evening during dinner, Jude had the idea to check the NHS app.
“Jude logged in and found the full report of the scan. It talked about metastases, so we knew immediately it was stage 4. It was obviously devastating but finding out in the way we did was utterly unacceptable and made an awful situation so much harder.
Holding onto every positive
“When Jude started treatment, our initial feeling was one of optimism. Jude was to have five courses of chemotherapy and then concurrent immunotherapy.
“Jude coped brilliantly with the chemo. She did lose her hair and was very tired for some periods but suffered no other major side effects. However, her next scans showed no marked changes to the tumours. They had not shrunk, but they hadn’t grown either so he held on to that positive.
“Jude then started her immunotherapy treatment. Again, she did not suffer with any major side effects. However, as time when on, Jude’s health deteriorated. She was getting very breathless and soon needed the assistance of a wheelchair and mobility scooter.
“At her next appointment, her consultant informed us that the treatment wasn’t working and there was nothing further they could do. There were no funded treatments for the type of genetic mutation Jude had.
Palliative care
“Soon after we were told that the largest tumour was near a blood vessel in Jude’s lung, the pressure of which could cause a fatal bleed.
“Jude didn’t want me to have to go through that potential trauma and so made the brave and selfless decision to move into a care home.
“She moved in Byng House in Southport on 22 September 2023. The team were brilliant. They even moved Jude to a better room, with a lovely view of the coast. Jude was there for just over a month before she died at 3am on 25 October, her hand in mine.
Jude’s lasting legacy
“Just before her death, Jude offered her whole body to the University of Liverpool and medical science. Only 30% of donations are taken up by the university and I’m so proud to say that Jude was one of them.
“Even after her death, Jude is still making a difference to people’s lives. She is helping to develop new doctors, advance medical research and improve outcomes for those who follow – just as I hope our fundraising will do too.
“I always knew my wife was remarkable and now, by sharing her story, everyone else will know too.”