I trusted my instinct and it saved my life. On Wednesday 28th February, James Brokenshire MP returned to the House of Commons for his first Prime Minister’s Questions since having lung cancer surgery.
During PMQs, James spoke of his treatment for lung cancer, highlighting the key role of early diagnosis in improving survival rates and the importance of a “speedily and widely implemented lung health programme”. He ended by asking the Government to undertake actions to reduce stigma and false judgement on people with lung cancer.
The former Northern Ireland secretary was diagnosed with lung cancer in the new year after he coughed up a small amount of blood on a single occasion. Fortunately, due to his own persistence and a good GP, he was diagnosed early and eligible for curative surgery. He is now speaking out about his experience to try and help others have a similar outcome to him:
“Given my age, fitness and that I was a non-smoker, I didn’t fit the mould of a person at high risk of lung cancer, so when I cleared my throat and saw a small blob of blood in my tissue, it’s fair to say such a diagnosis wasn’t at the forefront of my mind. I did however feel that something was wrong and went to my GP straight away.