Lung cancer: Early diagnosis after screening saved mother’s life

Ms Walker received her invite for a lung health check in late November 2023.

She had a chronic cough at the time and feared cancer might be a possibility.

“I did feel disgusted with myself but just kept smoking,” she said.

The scan, performed in a supermarket car park, revealed a suspicious nodule, and further tests confirmed an 18mm cancerous growth.

“Although I knew what the outcome was going to be, I was still in shock,” Ms Walker said.

A lobectomy in March 2024 at St George’s Hospital, in Tooting, removed the stage one tumour and she needed no further treatment.

” I will never, ever go back to smoking. The thought of my son stops me,” said Ms Walker, who is now cancer-free and a non-smoker.

“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?”