When 60-year-old William Selden from London was invited for a lung cancer screening in 2023, he didn’t expect it to change his life. The screening found early-stage lung cancer — something William had no symptoms of. Surgery followed, and for a time, all seemed well. But then the cancer returned.
Despite the setback, William remains remarkably positive and determined to live life to the fullest, finding strength in mindfulness, community, and gratitude for the progress being made in lung cancer care.
“There is so much fear about cancer. It’s such a highly emotive subject. We call it the big ‘C’, but for me, having cancer hasn’t necessarily been a bad experience. It’s been difficult at times, yes – but not bad. In many ways, I feel more alive with cancer than I did before my diagnosis.
“I was first diagnosed in November 2023 after going for screening. It was caught early. I had surgery in January, and the follow-up scans were all clear. Then, in January 2025, I was told the cancer had come back.
“It was a shock, but I still had options. I had radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and now I’m on immunotherapy. The side effects can be tough – I feel very tired, bone tired at times – but I just make sure I rest when I need to.”
Progress is happening
“I think there’s a real lack of awareness about all the progress that’s been made with lung cancer. My mum died of lung cancer many years ago. It was very quick – she passed away within a year of her diagnosis.
“But my story is very different. Thanks to screening, my cancer was caught early, before I had any symptoms. Yes, it may have come back, but it was still found far earlier than it would have been otherwise – and that meant there were still options for treatment.
“Screening is such an important step forward for lung cancer. I think it can help reduce the fear around it and help people face it more openly. In the past, most people with lung cancer didn’t survive, so that’s what people expect. But as more people start to survive or live longer with lung cancer, hopefully we’ll all begin to see it’s not the death sentence it once was.”
The power of mindfulness
“I’ve been practising mindfulness for many years now, and it’s definitely helped me cope with my diagnoses. It’s taught me to live day by day rather than worrying about the ‘what ifs’.
“Those pleasant, everyday moments of life are now magical. I’m much more conscious of the things that bring me joy – things I might once have taken for granted.
“Since my diagnosis, I’ve moved into a new flat, and it’s made me so happy. I’ve found a wonderful, supportive community who’ve really helped me through both diagnoses. Having positive people around who care and want to help makes all the difference.
“I celebrated my 60th birthday up on the roof terrace. It was magic. I invited everyone I liked – even some people I hadn’t seen in 20 years. My diagnosis has helped me reconnect with old friends. It’s one of the many positives that’s come out of what could have been a negative situation.
“I have a friend who was diagnosed with cancer a year before me. They showed me that you can live with cancer and still have fun. I think those who haven’t experienced it firsthand tend to fear it more.
“That’s what made me want to share my experience as part of the This is Lung Cancer campaign. My friend made getting cancer easier for me by showing me how they coped. Hopefully, my story will do the same for someone else.”