Lung screening pilots are one of the biggest advances in recent years. They are already saving lives, including Sandra’s.
As part of our World Cancer Day series, Sandra shares her experience of the pilot programme in Halton and how it changed everything.
“You never think scrolling on Facebook will change your life, but for me, it did. I saw an advert for a lung health check: I fit the criteria, I was the right age, and I used to smoke, although I had quit years ago.
“A few days later, I received a letter inviting me for a check. For a moment, I thought about not going. I felt completely well. I had no symptoms. It was also close to Christmas, so life felt busy. But I knew it was important, so I called and booked it straight away.
“I had a phone appointment with a triage nurse. She asked about my health and smoking history. She then recommended a CT scan. The scanner was in a supermarket car park nearby, which made it really convenient.
“I was there for less than 10 minutes and I finished before my actual appointment time.
“I wasn’t worried at all. I felt fine, so I didn’t expect anything to be wrong. That’s why the phone call came as such a shock.
“About a week later, they told me they had found a nodule larger than expected. They asked me to come in for a PET scan. After that, the doctor explained I had very early-stage lung cancer and would need surgery.
“They planned keyhole surgery, which reassured me. They also said the cancer had not spread. Even so, I felt scared. When you hear the word cancer, your mind races. But I also felt incredibly lucky they had found it early.
“It just shows you can have lung cancer and feel so well. I had no symptoms at all.
“I went into hospital on 22 March 2022, had surgery the next day and returned home by Mother’s Day.”