When Cathy Hunt first started to feel “very tired” she thought it was just caused by an infection. The mum-of-four was not far from her 50th birthday and had no other “obvious” symptoms.
But just days before reaching the big 5-0 her “world was turned upside down”. A scan revealed the devastating truth – that she had lung cancer.
Recalling her diagnosis, she told Express.co.uk: “There are no words that can describe the fear, sorrow and shame I felt.”
Cathy, from County Durham, had started smoking at the age of just 11, to fit in.
“At that time everybody did,” she said. “Like other girls my age I thought it made me cool and grown up to smoke.
“Obviously at the age of 11 I was not aware when I took that first draw of a cigarette how addictive and harmful smoking is. Nobody who tries smoking ever means to get hooked and smoke for life.”
She attempted to quit multiple times over the years, saying she “wished” she had never started in the first place.
Smoking is known to be the biggest cause of lung cancer, which is the deadliest type of cancer in the UK – responsible for more than 34,800 fatalities every year.
However, Cathy said: “Even though by now I knew the health implications, I thought it would never happen to me.”
The scan had picked up a tumour on her lung and she underwent an operation to remove half her lung.
“It was one of the most painful operations you can endure, breaking my ribs and cutting into my lung,” Cathy said.
“For a long time afterwards my 15-year-old daughter had to take care of me night and day, while in the middle of her GCSEs. That’s not anything a parent wants for their child.”
She also followed the surgeons’ advice and stopped smoking a few weeks before the operation.
But the temptation proved too strong and years later she started smoking again.
Cathy said: “You would think that would be it, but no after smoking for 40 years my addiction was so strong that a few years later I started smoking again.
“The result? In November 2022 I had another part of my lung removed and in June 2023 my kidney removed due to cancer.”
This time she did manage to quit for good and the now 57-year-old has been vocal in her support for the smokefree generation bill while working alongside Fresh, the North East tobacco control programme.
The bill means anyone turning 15 in 2024, and children who are younger, will never legally be sold cigarettes or other tobacco products, even after they turn 18 in the UK.
Speaking recently at an All Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health event, she said: “I want to ensure my children and grandchildren; your children and grandchildren will never become addicted to this disgusting poison and go through what my family and many other families have gone through.
“There is no argument in the world that can defend the rights of a 15 year old child walking to school this morning to die in the future from lung cancer. And raising it to 21 is no answer either – people start in their 20s as well. I know plenty of people in their 20s who smoke and they regret it.”
According to the NHS, the most common symptoms of lung cancer include:
- A cough that does not go away after three weeks
- A long-standing cough that gets worse
- Chest infections that keep coming back
- Coughing up blood
- An ache or pain when breathing or coughing
- Persistent breathlessness
- Persistent tiredness or lack of energy
- Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss.
If you experience any unexplained symptoms you should speak to your GP.
