When Vivien Pascoe went for a routine lung cancer screening, she felt healthy and had no reason to think anything was wrong. But that five-minute scan changed — and saved — her life.
Now recovering well, Vivien shares her story to encourage others to take up screening when invited.
“When I tell people I have lung cancer and call myself lucky, they’re often surprised. How can lung cancer and luck go together?
“For me, the answer is simple. I was lucky to live in East Lancashire, where a lung cancer screening programme was running. Lucky the scan found my cancer, even though I had no symptoms. And lucky it was caught early enough to remove before it could grow or spread.
“Without screening, my story would have been very different. Like many people, I might have ignored symptoms for a while, thinking they were nothing serious, and delayed seeing my GP. By the time I did, it could have been too late for surgery. That’s the reality for too many people — but thanks to screening, things are changing.”
What is lung cancer screening?
“I received an invitation for screening and went to a mobile CT scanner parked in a supermarket car park. Parking was easy, appointments ran on time, the staff were kind, and the scan took only five minutes.
“A few weeks later, I got a letter with my results. Everything was fine and I was reminded when to return.
“I’d gone for screening for a few years when, in November 2024, a letter said a small nodule had been found. The team reassured me that this is quite common, but they recommended another scan in three months.
“The follow-up scan in February 2025 showed the nodule had doubled in size. Within days, the screening team called me. Further tests confirmed it was 99% likely to be cancer.
“The speed of care amazed me. The diagnostic team contacted me straight away, and a surgeon quickly prepared for surgery.
“Within six weeks, doctors had removed the cancer. At a time when we hear so much about NHS pressures — staff shortages, waiting lists, and delays — I can only feel grateful for the prompt and compassionate treatment I received from East Lancashire and Blackpool Health Trusts.”
The next chapter
“Unfortunately, my journey didn’t end there. My cancer was an aggressive type — small cell lung cancer — so after surgery, I began chemotherapy.
It was tough. The side effects were draining and I lost my hair, but I reminded myself: it’s only hair — I didn’t lose my life.
My post-chemo scans have shown no signs of cancer, and I now have check-ups every three months with my oncology team.
Since finishing treatment in July, I’ve been rebuilding my strength and spending time with family and friends, especially my wonderful husband and daughter. I’ve even discovered a new world of wigs!
Wanting to challenge myself, I signed up to walk 100 miles in August to raise money. With my loved ones joining different walks, I did it — laughing, enjoying fresh air, and making memories in the countryside.
So when I say I’m lucky, I mean it. Lucky to have had access to screening. Lucky my cancer was caught early. Lucky to have such incredible care. And most of all, lucky to have more time with the people I love.”
Vivien Pascoe went for a routine lung cancer screening even though she had no symptoms and felt fine. But that five-minute scan changed – and saved – her life.
Now recovering well, Vivien is sharing her story to encourage others to take up the offer of screening when invited.
“When I tell people I have lung cancer and call myself lucky, they’re often surprised.” How can lung cancer and luck possibly go together?
“For me, the answer is simple: I was lucky to live in East Lancashire, where a lung cancer screening programme was running. The screening found my cancer early, before it could grow or spread — and for that, I’m truly lucky.
“Without screening, my story would have been very different. Like many people, I would probably have ignored early symptoms for a while, putting them down to something temporary, and delayed going to my GP. By the time I did, it might have been too late for surgery. That’s the reality for far too many people with lung cancer but thanks to screening, things are changing.
What is lung cancer screening?
“I received an invitation for screening and then attended a mobile CT scanner parked in a supermarket car park. Parking was easy, the appointments always ran on time, the staff were kind, and the scan itself took just five minutes.
“Afterwards, I got a letter with my results within a few weeks. At this point, everything was fine and there was a reminder of when to return.
“I’d attended screening for a few years when, in November 2024, a letter said doctors had found a small nodule. The team reassured me this is quite common, but they advised me to have another scan in three months.”
“In February 2025, the follow-up scan showed the nodule had doubled in size. Within days, I had a call from the screening team, and further tests quickly confirmed it was 99% likely to be cancer.
“The speed of care amazed me. The rapid diagnostic team were in touch straightaway, and a surgeon was already preparing to operate.
“Within six weeks of that scan, the cancer had been removed. At a time when we hear so much about NHS pressures – staff shortages, long waiting lists, delays in surgery – I can only speak with gratitude about the incredible, prompt treatment I received from East Lancashire and Blackpool Health Trusts.
The next chapter
“Unfortunately, my journey didn’t end there. My cancer was an aggressive type – small cell lung cancer – so after surgery I began chemotherapy.
“It was tough. The side effects were draining and I lost my hair – but I reminded myself: it’s only hair, I didn’t lose my life.
“My post-chemo scans have shown no signs of cancer, and I’ll now have check-ups every three months with my oncology team.
“Since finishing treatment in July, I’ve been rebuilding my strength, spending time with family and friends, especially my incredible husband and daughter, and even discovering a new world of wigs!
“Wanting to challenge myself, I signed up to walk 100 miles in August to raise money. With the support of loved ones joining me on different walks, I managed it – enjoying laughter, fresh air, the countryside – and precious time with those I love the most.
“So when I say I’m lucky, I mean it. Lucky to have had access to screening. My doctors caught my cancer early. I was lucky to receive such wonderful care. Most of all, I’m lucky to have more time with the people I love.