'I share my story to normalise living with cancer'

A woman with terminal lung cancer said screening could help beat the misconception the disease only affects "heavy smokers and older men", after meeting people "from all walks of life" through support groups.

Maria Elliott, 58, from Leeds, has a stage-four diagnosis but is currently free of the disease due to medication, after being told she could only have 12 months to live.

She said through volunteering and social media, she aimed to raise awareness, and empower others to gain "the power and the motivation to get support".

"You need to find your village - ask the silliest questions, ask the most serious questions and just know there's somebody there to catch you," she explained.

"It's hard when you feel so alone, so I just try and normalise things for people because it's a hard enough journey."

In 2022, Maria was diagnosed a type of cancer linked to a mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR).

Seven years earlier, the mum-of-two had a lumpectomy, 15 sessions of radiotherapy and a full preventative hysterectomy to treat breast cancer.

In 2017, she underwent surgery for skin cancer.

Although she was in remission, during the Covid-19 pandemic, she began to experience pain when eating, and lost her appetite.

Testing found a cancerous tumour at the bottom of her lung, which was too advanced to operate on.

"I shut down for six months, I was absolutely devastated. I didn't know what to do," she said.

According to charity EDFR Positive, EGFR-mutated lung cancer in the UK is nearly twice as common in women than in men.

It also affects more people who have never smoked or have been light smokers.

The stigma attached to lung cancer was something she struggled with, she said, although she was supported by family, including husband David, and her children.

"I started to reach out because it was a very lonely place because I didn't know anybody else who'd had that cancer.

"I think lung cancer in particular, there's a lot of stigma because everybody thinks it's only because of environment or smoking, and it's not."

Maria's cancer can be managed with a daily tablet, which has reduced the size of the tumour to undetectable levels, and is monitored through regular check-ups.

Screening as a preventative method, similar to cervical and breast cancer checks, could be a way to catch the disease earlier, she said.

"At one time, you had to be a heavy smoker and cough a lot before you'd get X-rays and be referred.

"I'm in a very positive mind frame because of the advancements in research and science, it's really amazing what they can do [but] it's about awareness."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the government was committed to "driving forward research and screening to better diagnose and support those with cancer".

"The UK National Screening Committee advises on screening, and proposals for screening conditions can be made online through the open call on the GOV.UK website," they added.

Through Facebook groups and volunteering work with charities such as Cancer in Common and Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, she has encountered people "from all walks of life".

"You don't realise how lucky you are and how much, how intense those friendships become. You learn from them, and that's the important thing," she said.

"The hardest bit is losing them [and] that happens far too regularly.

"Each person that I've lost, I've learnt something."

Maria also runs a social media page where she shares her story, alongside advice and tips for others living with lung cancer.

"I started my journey on Instagram as some sort of, 'I still want it to matter. I still wanted to be seen'".

Despite her positive outlook, some days can be "a tiny bit bittersweet", she said.

"You do have that thing where you think, 'this is the last time so I better enjoy myself' so you put a bit of pressure on yourself.

"But you know, normally I do have a laugh, I keep it upbeat - I think it has spurred me on to just live my life".

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