Nothing was going to stop Ginnie Walker from smoking. After a lifetime of cigarettes (a packet a day since she was 18) the 59-year-old knew she needed to quit, but admits she loved smoking and found it a comfort.
Even the death of her young sister four years ago from lung cancer at the age of 50 - herself a smoker – didn’t change Ginnie’s habit. “I did feel disgusted with myself but I just kept smoking”.
That was until an NHS lung health check in Crawley, Sussex discovered Ginnie had cancer in her left lung.
Within two weeks of the diagnosis, she quit for good. And following successful treatment, Ginnie is adamant she will never smoke again.
“I occasionally dream I am smoking and when I wake up I feel so guilty. But I will never, ever go back to smoking. The thought of my son stops me. I also don’t want to let all the wonderful people down who have been involved in my diagnosis and treatment - from my GP, the team at the lung health check and the surgeon. Why would I want to undo all that good work and start smoking?”
Ginnie, a former English teacher and now a project worker supporting homeless clients, received her invite for a lung health check in late November 2023. At the time, she had a chronic cough and says she thought cancer might be likely.
“I felt I had smoked and that I deserved it, but then I thought about my son (Oscar, aged 23) and knew I was going to take up the invite.”
“The team at the lung health check in the supermarket carpark were lovely and non-judgmental about the fact I was a smoker. And it was all done so quickly.”
She was called a few weeks later and told the CT scan had picked up suspected cancer.
“Although I knew what the outcome was going to be I was still in shock.”
Subsequent investigations, including a biopsy, found an 18mm cancerous lobe nodule in her left lung. In March 2024, she had a lobectomy - an operation to remove the tumour - at St George’s Hospital, Tooting. Ginnie says she felt positive about the operation and outcome.
“I was told because it was caught early (stage 1), it would be cured by the treatment. I haven’t had to have chemotherapy or radiotherapy.”
Ginnie is back to good health and enjoying life with her son and her many hobbies. She is an avid reader, a passionate cook, especially recipes by famous chef Yotam Ottolenghi, and a keen traveller - a trip to Jamaica with Oscar is on her wish-list for 2025.
“I would say to any smoker, if you receive an invite for a lung health check, please just go for the scan. They won’t judge you. Go for your loved ones.”
Her son Oscar is relieved and grateful that his mum went for the lung health check.
He says: “The fact my mum is still here supporting me and everyone around her with her uplifting personality is a blessing. Simply put, this wouldn't have been possible if she hadn't responded to her invite to a lung screening and got herself checked early.”
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Click here to read more about the Targeted Lung Health Check