Hastings woman calls for better awareness after double lung cancer mistaken for swollen glands
Jules Fielder's cancer was misdiagnosed so many times it turned terminal before it was found
Last updated 23 hours ago
A Hastings woman who's double lung cancer was misdiagnosed as swollen glands and sciatica is urging for more awareness about 'non traditional' symptoms of the disease.
Jules Fielder found out she had terminal cancer in 2021 after discovering the swelling around her neck and shoulders and back pain was because it had spread across her body.
Lung cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, making it the leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
Jules said being a non-smoker and "looking healthy" meant it wasn't considered an option soon enough: "There's a lot of pre-judgment because I looked well, presented well and looked asymptomatic.
"When I was in my medical appointment, it was a judgment there on the spot of 'you look too young to have cancer'"
She has now amassed over thirty thousand followers blogging about her experience.
Jules continued: "I think a lot of people think coughing up blood, struggling to breathe - when I had none of those symptoms.
"My symptoms were shoulder pain, I had a lump in my neck and I had back ache - those were the symptoms that led me to my diagnosis."
She urged for people not to "rule themselves out" of having cancer.
"Just never think that it won't happen to you. Be really aware of the signs and symptoms of lung cancer, and get yourself checked."
As part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (RCLCF) is also calling to end the harmful labels such as smoker and non-smoker that often surround lung cancer.
The campaign highlights how such labels can hinder early diagnosis and timely treatment, leading to unnecessary and sometimes deadly delays.
A spokesperson said: "Labels like smoker and non-smoker can distort what’s really going on and stop people from getting diagnosed sooner.
If someone has smoked, they are often more reluctant to seek help because they feel guilty or ashamed.
Meanwhile, those who have never smoked can face longer waits for tests, as they don’t fit the perceived profile of someone with lung cancer. Either way, the delays can be deadly."