Woman Who Felt She Deserved Lung Cancer Now Advocates for Screening

A woman, a lifelong smoker, who believed she deserved lung cancer, is now urging individuals invited for screening to “go for your loved ones.” Ginnie Walker of Crawley is among 137 smokers and former smokers in Sussex, aged 55 to 74, who have undergone early lung cancer treatment following their participation in a lung health check. However, the 59-year-old, who reported smoking a packet daily even after her sister’s death due to lung cancer, eventually reconsidered her initial stance. “I felt I had smoked and that I deserved it but then I thought about my son, Oscar, and knew I was going to take up the invite,” Ms Walker stated. Ms Walker received her invitation for a lung health check in late November 2023. At that time, she suffered from a chronic cough and was concerned that cancer could be a possibility. “I did feel disgusted with myself but just kept smoking,” she recounted. The subsequent scan, conducted in a supermarket car park, identified a suspicious nodule, and additional examinations confirmed an 18mm cancerous growth. “Although I knew what the outcome was going to be, I was still in shock,” Ms Walker commented. A lobectomy performed in March 2024 at St George’s Hospital in Tooting successfully removed the stage one tumour, eliminating the need for further treatment. ” I will never, ever go back to smoking. The thought of my son stops me,” Ms Walker declared; she is now cancer-free and no longer smokes. She added, “I also don’t want to let down all the wonderful people who have been involved in my diagnosis and treatment.” “Why would I want to undo all that good work and start smoking?” she questioned. Lung cancer stands as the primary cause of cancer-related fatalities in the UK, with fewer than a third of cases being identified at an advanced stage. Since 2022, almost 75% of individuals diagnosed through the Sussex NHS Lung Health Checks programme have been provided with potentially life-saving treatment. Over 56,000 invitations have been dispatched, and more than 34,000 people have attended scans. Ms Walker urged, “If you receive an invite for a lung health check, please just go for the scan. They won’t judge you,” adding, “Go for your loved ones.” Readers can follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be sent to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 08081 002250. This content is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.