When Liz Couser was diagnosed with lung cancer, she didn’t think their story was worth telling. There were no dramatic symptoms, no long battle against the odds — just a simple case of everything working exactly as it should. But that, Liz later realised, is precisely why it’s so important to share.
“I was quite reluctant to share my story. There’s nothing inspirational about it, not when you read some of the other stories of people living with lung cancer.
“But then I realised it was important to talk about my experience because it shows what can happen when everything goes right. And maybe, by sharing it, I could help someone else have an equally ‘uninspiring’ experience like I did.”
“It all began in December 2023, when I woke up one morning with an unusual pain in my chest.
“I don’t go to the doctor very often, but the pain was so bad I booked an appointment. I saw a locum doctor who immediately sent me for a chest X-ray. Now, this used to be quite a slow process — but with AI, it’s instant. They knew straight away there was something that needed to be looked at.
Bring a friend
“A CT scan soon followed and when the consultant suggested bringing a friend to the appointment, I knew it wasn’t good news.
“The consultant told me I had a tumour in my left lung. I was absolutely horrified. I was heartbroken. There was no cough, nothing — lung cancer just didn’t make sense.”
“Thankfully, the cancer was caught at stage 1. The tumour measured 4cm, and I underwent robotic-assisted thoracic surgery.
“It’s hard to believe half a lung could fit through a keyhole. Having robotic-assisted surgery made recovery so much easier. I just bounced back afterwards and, apart from a little breathlessness, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with me.
Support from Roy Castle
“During my diagnosis, I attended a local cancer support group — but soon realised nobody else there had lung cancer. That’s when I reached out to Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
“The charity got me involved in support groups where I could meet other people with lung cancer, including others who’d had surgery. It made me realise I wasn’t alone.”
“I am so grateful for the treatment I received. Everybody I met in the NHS couldn’t have been kinder or more positive. They throw everything at it to make you better.
“I also so grateful for the support I received from Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation so I decided to give back.
Giving back
“Alongside taking part in the This is Lung Cancer awareness campaign, I’m walking the length of the Forth and Clyde canal in November to raise money for Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Ellen from the Foundation is even joining me for part of the challenge — that’s the kind of people who work at this wonderful charity.”
“My cancer has gone. I hope by sharing my story — as ordinary as it might seem — I can help someone else have an equally unremarkable experience.
“I also hope it shows the Scottish Government just how vital lung cancer screening is. Early detection saved my life. They need to do everything they can to implement screening as soon as possible and save many, many more lives.”