Catching cancer early saves lives

A survey by Cancer Research UK has found thousands of people could be dying because they’re too frightened to go to the doctors.

Of the 2090 people questioned, 40% said they might put off going to their GP, even when they had symptoms, because they were worried about what they might find.

Catching cancer early can raise the chance of survival massively, meaning thousands of people in the UK could be needlessly dying every year.

Cancer Research UK said if Great Britain matched the best cancer survival rate in Europe, around 11,500 deaths could be avoided. And late diagnosis is at the heart of the problem.

I know too well the distress cancer can cause.

Two-and-a-half years ago my boyfriend Jon’s sister Lilly ended up in hospital when doctors found a tumour on her pituitary, a gland found at the base of the brain that produces hormones.

She first went to the doctor with stomach pains a year earlier but was mistakenly diagnosed with IBS.

When the problem didn’t go away Lilly saw a specialist, and after months of tests a scan found the tumour.

Despite a successful operation to remove it, the nightmare for Lilly and her family didn’t end there.

Just weeks later she was rushed to hospital when she started fitting.

A closer look revealed why - another tumour, this time on her pancreas.

I can remember the moment I found out Lilly was in intensive care. I had been out of the country for six months travelling around Asia, so the enormity of her ordeal hadn’t really registered.

Touching down at Heathrow, I switched on my phone.  My heart stuck in my throat as I read the message from Jon telling me the news.

In the arrivals hall greeting my parents I fought back tears, the reality of the situation finally hitting home.

Although Lilly said her GP was great from the beginning, she admitted her experience had made her realise how vital it is to get even the slightest lump, bump or pain checked out.

She said: “To be honest I coped with the symptoms for way too long as I thought, well hoped, they were nothing. I would say any change in your body is worth checking out as if you catch it early they can keep an eye on you.

“Even a slight delay can make a massive difference; it was progressing fast and a two day delay with my scan caused complications that could have been avoided.”

Although experts are still trying to work out the cause of Lilly’s cancer, she is now thankfully in remission.

In her case, catching it early not only spared her chemotherapy but almost certainly saved her life.
Later this month we will be celebrating Lilly’s 30^th birthday, and after everything she’s been through I know it will be a special one.

 

Lilly has inspired me to take part in this year’s Moonwalk in London, a power walking night time marathon, to raise money and awareness for breast cancer.

If you would like to sponsor me please give generously (26 miles is a long way in a bra!) here.