Val's Race for Life

To raise as much money as possible for cancer research UK.

My Story

In 2015 I lost my dear brother, Malcolm, to this terrible disease after a relatively short but very courageous fight. He was 68. More recently, in 2024, I lost one of my best fiends. Cheryl, who fought for many years defying the doctors with her determination and will to live lost the fight - ultimately, cancer won. She was 56. Now it is my turn to fight - I’m 65 and going nowhere yet! After starting a new job and inevitably catching a cold that was doing the rounds of the office, I had a lymph gland under my arm that was swollen. I acted almost immediately and was referred to the breast clinic for an ultrasound on the two week wait. I was seen within 14 days and indeed, the ultrasound showed the gland was abnormal. A bisopsy was taken and a CT scan carried out. On Tuesday 9th December 2025 I was told I did not have breast cancer but I did have lung cancer with lymph metastases. It was a dreadful shock - I had no symptoms. No shortage of breath, not cough, nothing except a swollen lymph gland under my arm. On Thursday 11th December, still reeling from shock, I saw the Respiratory Consultant.. The cancer was stage 1V. The biopsy sample was sent for molecular testing to determine what, if any treatment can be offered. On Thursday 17th December a liquid biopsy was taken and sent to Manchester for analysis'- I was gutted I had to miss the. office party at lunchtime! Christmas Eve brought more delights - yet another biopsy on the lymph gland under my arm. The waiting continued, it has been torture. The results came back ond were discussed at the Multi Disciplinary Team Meeting on 21st January 2026. My cancer is very advanced and also quite rare. It is a mutation most commonly seen in younger people, women, those who have never smoked or those who stopped many years ago (I am the latter) and those who.se ethnicity is Asian. I have just started a target treatment in an attempt to contain and shrink my tumours down. Hopefully, I can tolerate the treatment, it will work and I will get more time. I have a lovely husband, who courageously fought oesphageal cancer and won almost 22 years ago. He had a fantastic team around him. Although he has multiple complex. health issues, he is at my side supporting me every step of the way. I also have an amazing daughter, son-in-law and two awesome grandchildren. Not forgetting my wonderful nieces, nephews and their gorgeous children. Not forgetting my lovely friends. I intend life to go on as normally as possible, it is my intention to continue to work as long as I am able. I have fantastic support from my managers and work with a super team. I want to grow a bit older a little disgracefully and receive my state pension! Most of all, I would like to raise as much money as possible and increase awareness of this silent killer.

My Video